WNBL INDIGENOUS UNIFORMS REVEALED
The Cygnett WNBL Indigenous Round is underway, commencing on Wednesday night when the Melbourne Boomers played the Adelaide Lighting on Waurna Country. With four more games in the round, there’s still plenty of action to be seen. Check out the fixture here.
Check out all the designs and stories from the artists, and jump on the WNBL Shop to get your singlet today.
MELBOURNE
Artist: Melinda Kennedy
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers’ Indigenous jersey was created with the aim to celebrate and recognise Indigenous Australians and culture both within the WNBL and the wider Australian community. The specially designed jersey helps bring to life the appreciation of Indigenous culture that Deakin continues to champion through their collaboration with the Melbourne Boomers.
The jersey is named the “Moodoogorok”, after an artwork that was designed by artist Melinda Kennedy. “Moodoogorok” means to be a leader and a wise woman. Melinda said she “thought of a team and how in culture it is so important” to see strong female leaders in the community. The depicted items on the jersey are the “mookitj” (the kangaroo apple) and “kurrarra” (the dilly bag) represent the strengths and knowledge gained by women through their life experiences over time.
ADELAIDE
Artists: Paul and Hunter Vandenbergh
Designed by Paul Vandenbergh and daughter Hunter, the design reflects the importance of Aboriginal and Indigenous culture. It has several elements to display about the culture it exudes including about the history, the land, the club, and the people that make up the South Australian community and the Adelaide Lightning. The symbols such as the Tjindu (Sun), tracks and shapes represent past elders, life giving, the Kaurna people and the land the club trains and plays on, the current players, coaches and staff and of course the fans, the members and supporters who continue to inspire people to represent the Lightning on the national stage. Vandenbergh summarised the meaning of the symbolism of the design.
CANBERRA
Artist: Richard Allan
The UC Capitals Indigenous uniform is designed by Ngunnawal man Richard Allan.
Circles: Each individual circle represents community. Within each circle there are wavy lines and dots, which represent the journey the players go on each and every day. The weave and cross over lines are the basket weaving, which in Ngunnawal culture is very important for the women as it symbolises togetherness and strength. They all make up nine circles, which represents the 9 championships won by the UC Capitals.
The U Shapes with the line next to them: This is the symbol for women. Richard used the pink and purple shades which was a request by the Caps and reflects the healing leaves on Ngunnawal country.
Wedgetail eagle footprints: The players requested a wedgetail eagle on the design, which is the totem spirit for the Ngunnawal People. The footprints down the middle signify the wedge tail eagle guiding us on our journey.
War paint: on the sides, there is battle paint, as the UC Capitals will be going into battle this Indigenous Round, against another tribe. This represents them dressing for war, like the Ngunnawal People did when they prepared for battle
BENDIGO
Artist: Daikota Nelson
Designed by local Dja Dja Wurrung artist Daikota Nelson, the Spirit will proudly wear the special Indigenous-themed jersey as part of the WNBL’s Indigenous Round, which celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and the Indigenous women shaping our game.
We will also change our name from Bendigo to Yaram Yaram, which will be displayed across the front of the Indigenous jerseys.
Daikota explained the inspiration behind her brilliant artwork was depicting the ups and downs people experience in their basketball journey.
“The inspiration for the work was trying to represent a journey and growth but also acknowledging the ups and downs within the journey of basketball is, you can’t win every single game or someone might hurt themselves along the way,” Daikota explained.
“Acknowledging that there’s a journey and a team and people coming together in that collaboration and celebrating, but there’s also the other side to it that isn’t so pretty.”
SYDNEY
Artist: Stewart James
This artwork reflects the Sydney Flames’ mission statement:
“To relentlessly raise the bar of Basketball in Australia, every day in every way” – RISE WITH US!
The outer edge of this artwork symbolises the strong ancestral grounds on which the Flames represent. This deep legacy holds the strength and the resilience that is still present within all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities today. This strength allows the current playing group to use this power and knowledge, to influence how they will honour those people and players from the past and present.
PERTH
Artist: Jaelan Scott
The name of this painting is “Nambiyin” which is one of the many traditional skin names of the Jaru nation. It is the skin name that belongs to me and my sisters.
Throughout history, skin names have been really important to explain our history, culture, our connection to each other across the generational cycle and is followed by a lot of Jaru families even in the present day.
I wanted the story of my painting to reflect this year’s NAIDOC theme “For our Elders.” I have used colours which represent the warm palette of my home of Halls Creek, a small town in the Central Kimberley, which lays on the edge of the desert.
The three layered coloured shapes represent the hilly landscape of Jaru country. The colours represent the rustic landscape of my country, that includes the visuals of the hills, the sand and the rocks of Jaru country.
Through my passion for painting, I wanted to tell a story about my Elders, both past and present, and how each full dotted circle represents a small part of my ancestors life story and they went through.
TOWNSVILLE
Artist: Chris Gray
Chris Deadly Art
The story with this art design is to acknowledge all the players, their families, the club’s staff, the members, and the Townsville community supporting the Townsville Fire. We also would like to respectfully acknowledge all the traditional lands we live, work, and play on.
The story behind this art piece is focused on connection, journey and respect.
The yarning circles are to identify all the players, their families, the club staff, the members, and the Townsville community coming together to support the Townsville Fire.
The connection symbols flowing through the design shows that we are all connected on this journey together.
The circle dotart is the Townsville Fire colours which I also like to use in my art to remember the dreamtime stories, culture, bloodlines, and the connection we have to land, sea and sky.
The yarning circle on its own is to respectfully acknowledge our ancestors who walked on the lands before us, and the Townsville Fire would like to acknowledge all the traditional custodians lands as we live, work, and play on.
SOUTHSIDE
Artist: Emma Stenhouse
The Flyers Indigenous uniforms were designed by proud Ngarrindjeri woman, Emma Stenhouse, who spent time with the players to find out their core values and what connections they had with their culture. Emma then created the players and the Flyers story through this incredible artwork – a reflection of the teams’ values, and the unity, care, support and nurturing they provide one another. It is based on ‘Sisterhood’.