Aja is Lightning's fourth coach in 12 months

• December 10, 2024: Head coach Hurst out at Adelaide Lightning
• December 18, 2024: Scott Ninnis named Adelaide Lightning coach
• May 27, 2025: Kerryn Mitchell appointed head coach of Adelaide
• July 11, 2025: 'Hell no': Scott Ninnis on why he'll never coach again
• November 26, 2025: Adelaide boss on Kerryn Mitchell exit: 'It’s been a tough 24 hours'

The Adelaide Lightning have appointed their fourth head coach in less than 12 months.

Players were told this morning Boston College alumni Aja Parham-Ammar will be the interim head coach while the Lightning searched for their next permanent coach.

She was named the 2023 Female Coach of the Year in Queensland and is the head coach of the Logan Thunder, appointed for two years in November 2024.

"Aja's journey, her leadership and her global perspective are incredibly inspiring. She understands what it takes to grow athletes as players and as people, and that's exactly what this next chapter of the Adelaide Lightning is about,' WNBL and Head of Women In Basketball for Basketball Australia advisor Lauren Jackson.

"Adelaide is building something strong, and Aja Parham-Ammar is the right person to take this club into it's next era."

Former Australian Opals captain and Lightning advisor Tess Magden added: "I strongly believe Aja will bring the stability, leadership and support the organisation needs, while also driving the development of a strong culture and effective systems for the playing group during this critical period.

"My focus has been on supporting the current playing group, leaning into their growth, development and well-being both on and off court and Aja is an excellent fit and well placed to achieve the common goals shared by all involved."

Parnham-Ammar declares on her LinkedIn Profile: "As a professional basketball player in the WNBA/FIBA (Europe), I have been able to experience firsthand the greatness of sport. It has taught me valuable lessons about success. My love for sport, combined with 10 years experience as a sports performance/fitness trainer, developed a clear passion: Create an environment where athletes of all ages, sports, and performance levels have a place to sharpen their athletic acumen and foster a healthy existence. For me that healthy existence equals a healthy body, healthy mind, and healthy spirit."

She is now the fourth head coach for the reborn South Australian club in less than 12 months.

In December, Adelaide and then head coach Nat Hurst "mutually agreed to part ways, Scott Ninnis was appointed a week later and coached them for the remainder of WNBL25 but wasn't talked to as the club's fate was being decided after the new league owners took over.

The SA Government and the WNBL saved the club via joint-ownership and appointed Kerryn Mitchell in late May. She lasted just seven games before, she too "parted ways".

Adelaide Lightning CEO Melanie MacGillivray said on Thursday: "It’s been a tough 24 hours

"No one’s denying that. What I will say is the matter that has been undertaken was done with sincere consideration and supported by our leadership team, which includes our board and owners. We remain committed to driving a culture of high performance, respect and integrity.

"That underpins everything we do. I just want to reassure you and our supporters that our leadership — including the board and ownership — is united in providing the best environment for our players, club staff and supporters."

Logan Thunder glowed in the announcement of Parham-Ammar in November 2024

"Aja brings a wealth of experience to the role, having coached both men’s and women’s programs at the NBL1 North level," the release said.

"In 2023, she was recognised as Basketball Queensland’s Female Coach of the Year, a testament to her exceptional leadership, player development skills, and commitment to fostering a positive team culture. Aja’s deep passion for the game and her ability to inspire players make her the perfect fit to lead the Thunder Women into the upcoming seasons."

Parham-Ammar revealed it was NBL champion CJ Bruton who kick started her coaching career after more than a decade in sports and player development.

“Coaching didn’t come into my mind until post-career when CJ Bruton told me, ‘You’re going to be my assistant’,” she said in December 2023.

“It was a matter of learning how to communicate with athletes, because they all are there to win, they want to win. Most players that you recruit play on a serious level, and contracted players are there for the right reasons.

“It’s a matter of them buying in and communicating, and CJ (Bruton) is really good at that, he’s great at personal relationships with his players.”