Respected New Zealand Tall Ferns national team assistant revealed as new coach for Adelaide’s new-look WNBL franchise

Following much upheaval about the future of Adelaide’s WNBL team, the new-look franchise has a new coach, beating out a star-studded cast of hopefuls.

New Zealand Tall Ferns national team assistant Kerryn Mitchell will lead the new-look Adelaide WNBL franchise. Picture: Supplied

Respected New Zealand Tall Ferns national team assistant Kerryn Mitchell will lead the new-look Adelaide WNBL franchise.

CODE Sports has confirmed Mitchell, who assisted Cheryl Chambers on Southside Flyers’ 2024 WNBL championship team, will be unveiled as the franchise’s new coach.

Following CODE Sports revelation of Mitchell’s appointment on Tuesday, the WNBL confirmed she would officially take the helm.

It’s understood Mitchell beat out a star-studded cast of hopefuls for the top job including three-time WNBL Coach of the Year Chambers, three-time Olympian Shelley Gorman, Adelaide Lightning championship winner Cherie Cordoba and recently departed Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence women’s coach David Herbert.

Shelley Gorman as head coach of the Sydney Flames in 2023. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Mitchell succeeds former Adelaide 36ers coach Scott Ninnis, who took over from Hurst mid-last season when she was sacked.

Mitchell is a highly regarded figure in the Australian basketball community with decades of experience at elite and junior levels.

The 51-year-old spent over a decade as a player in the WNBL – most notably four seasons as captain of Canberra – and in Europe before moving into the coaching space.

Mitchell replaces Scott Ninnis as head coach. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

Based in south east Melbourne, Mitchell recently coached Sandringham’s women’s unit in NBL1 South before she joined the Tall Ferns program as an assistant to former Adelaide Lightning coach Nat Hurst.

“The Adelaide team has a rich history and a passionate community behind it,” Mitchell said.

“I’m excited to be part of a high-performing team that reflects the pride of South Australia, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Strong-willed and driven, Mitchell emerged as the perfect candidate for a franchise that has endured recent turmoil.

The SA state government was forced to step in to keep the franchise in the city when the WNBL’s new ownership and Lightning owners Pelligra fell out.

It remains unclear whether the Lightning name will survive, with the two sides yet to come to an agreement on transfer of intellectual property.

Mitchell forms one half of a basketball power couple, her husband Simon Mitchell was NBL club South East Melbourne’s inaugural team coach and is the current Phoenix head of basketball.

Originally published as Respected New Zealand Tall Ferns national team assistant revealed as new coach for Adelaide’s new-look WNBL franchise