Lightning 'wishes' Mitchell well, Crouch named interim

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WNBL head coach Kerryn Mitchell's time at the Adelaide Lightning over.

Lightning CEO Melanie MacGillivray said: "We’re grateful for Kerryn's commitment to the club, and we wish her well.

"The Club’s ownership group, including Adelaide's own Mohan Koo and JP Drake remains committed to the long-term vision and success of the organisation.

"The Lightning will commence a formal process to appoint a new coach and will provide further updates in due course. In the meantime, Adelaide Lightning assistant coach Georgia Crouch will step up as interim coach to ensure continuity and support for the playing group in their match-up tonight against the Townsville Fire.

"Melanie has applauded Georgia, adding 'this is an incredible opportunity for one of South Australia’s emerging coaching talents to coach on the national stage, 31 years
after her 1994 championship winning father was an assistant coach for the Adelaide Lightning.

"The Adelaide Lightning remains steadfast on delivering a strong season and continuing to build a culture of excellence for the South Australian community."

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Last night, in response to whether Mitchell would be coaching against league leaders Townsville Fire tonight at the State Basketball Centre in Adelaide at 7pm, the Lightning said: "We won't be commenting on any internal matters at this time but we are steadfast on focusing on playing tomorrow night in front of a massive home crowd."

Multiple sources told basketball.com.au last night Mitchell's time at the Lightning may be over.

She was appointed on May 27 and Lightning are fifth after seven games (3-4) to start the 2025-26 WNBL season.

This morning, it is unclear who will coach the Lightning tonight.

Mitchell is the third Lightning head coach in less than year. Nat Hurst and the club "agreed to part ways" on December 10, 2024. Just days later former NBL head coach and Adelaide 36ers legend Scott Ninnis was appointed. He wasn't reappointed during the tumultuous period between the SA Government and the new ownership of the WNBL agreeing to keep the club alive.

South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas had committed earlier this year to spending $571,000 a year for three years ($1,713,000) with the Adelaide team training at the $88 million South Australian Institute of Sport to save the Lightning.

"It was unthinkable that the Adelaide Lightning could not be a fixture in the WNBL. We won’t let it happen," Malinauskas said.

"We are not going to get kids off screens and grow the number of active female sports participants if we don’t have teams like the Adelaide Lightning promoting basketball and physical activity to young girls.

"The significant financial and in-kind support we are providing will give our elite basketballers access to one of the best high-performance facilities in the country, and will encourage more women and girls onto the court.

"This is a fundamentally good thing and will help inspire the next Rachael Sporn or Steph Talbot."

WNBL CEO Jennie Sager praised all candidates when Mitchell was announced but said and Mitchell’s "vision and enthusiasm was impressive".

"Kerryn is an exceptional leader who embodies the professionalism, passion and boldness our league is striving for,” Sager said.

"Her vision for Adelaide aligns perfectly with our goals to bring fresh energy to the club and to connect deeper with the community.

"This is a big step forward for South Australian basketball."

The Adelaide Lightning, in partnership with the South Australian Government, appointed Melanie MacGillivray as chief executive officer in late August and unveiled a new brand identity ahead of the 2025-26 WNBL season.