Toowoomba Mountaineers women’s coach Matt Cox has sights set on historic QSL championship

With the QSL season back for 2024, the Toowoomba Mountaineers women’s side have their sights set on creating history ahead of a potential landmark campaign. See how they plan on making history here.

The Toowoomba Mountaineers women’s team are set to be a force in 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The QSL season is back for 2024 and the Toowoomba Mountaineers women’s team are ready to make history.

Toowoomba has never won a women’s state title in their history but women’s coach Matt Cox is determined to change that trend this season.

Having been involved with the Mountaineers since he was a junior basketballer, there is nothing Cox wants more than to lead the program to new heights.

“It means absolutely everything, our sole purpose and goal this year is to go out and win the championship,” he said.

“Obviously we turned the tide a little bit last year in finding ways to win but on reflection, we never really quite hit our straps and hit our peak and ultimately that was our downfall in that semi-final.”

After breaking a decade-long finals drought last season, Cox said Toowoomba is better and hungrier than ever before.

“The girls that are returning that have been in the program for a little while like some of our younger girls like Laura Conway, Halle (Shipton), Ash and Kianah Lynch, that have been building for us,” he said.

“To get that experience back and some of those girls that have played in losing programs before, they are all really hungry now to fly the flag and be that first women’s team in Toowoomba to ever win a championship and we definitely want that.

“It has been a long time coming in the women’s program but there is no better time than right now to be that team that finds success and we are ready.”

Toowoomba Mountaineers coach Matt Cox. Picture: Kevin Farmer

After falling just short of a grand final berth last year, Cox said his side is stronger and more talented than ever before and expects the entire squad to play a role this season.

“I think we saw it with our team a little bit last year where different players got a different allocation of minutes every night and we were able to play a number of different ways, whether that was big, small, fast or heavy shooting line-ups,” he said.

“I think we’ve reloaded even better again this year where every situation we are faced with, we are going to be able to change up the way we are playing to suit the game and combat anything that opposition teams throw against us.

“So obviously it is really exciting knowing that anyone can contribute on any given night.

“Obviously we are going to have a number of players who are going to be continuous valuable contributors in our line-up but especially for our role players, I can definitely see that changing up each and every game.

“Having that depth brings a lot of confidence as a coach and it should definitely bring a lot of confidence in our team as well and keeps everyone hungry and opportunistic for when they get on the floor to perform at the best of their ability.”

One of those key contributors who will have an impact every game is former Queensland Firebirds netballer Mia Stower, who is back with the Mountaineers – this time for the full season.

“Mia Stower is a massive one for us coming in, she is a fantastic athlete and the ultimate professional,” Cox said
“(She’s) an absolute weapon at rebounding the basketball, runs the lanes hard, finishes well around the rim, she’s a great pick and roll player, a great cutting player and she is going to have a massive impact for us every single night.”

Mia Stower in action for the Queensland Firebirds in 2023. Photo: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Cox also highlighted Jasmine Gardiner, Hannah Lennan and Kim Wilson as key additions to his side.

“Jasmine Gardiner has played in the QBL before and got a lot of minutes as a younger kid,” he said.

“She has got some college experience now and she is very smooth and crafty with the basketball.

“Hannah Lennan played for the Ipswich Force in the NBL1 program last year and she has a really good IQ and understanding of the game.

“That is definitely going to be impactful and something that we are going to turn to every single night and a number of other players too, like Kim Wilson, she came back to our senior program last year and gives us some more size.”

The chance to be so heavily involved with the Mountaineers and coach the women’s team is something that Cox has cherished throughout his career and he is determined to take the program to the next level.

“The Toowoomba program means a lot to me and hopefully that comes across in my character,” he said.

“I am very passionate about this Mountaineers program, I want to be successful and over the last couple of years unfortunately we haven’t been but I am really proud to be involved with such great athletes and helping them find success along the way.

“Being my junior club I have grown up and lived here, it is something that I hold dear to my heart for sure.”

The Mountaineers will take on USC Ripcity at Clive Berghofer Arena in round 1 on Saturday, with tip-off at 5pm.