Cockburn Cougars

Cockburn Basketball Association was established in 1972.[1][2] The association saw success in the 1980s, with the men's team reaching the grand final of the District Competition in 1982 before going on to win their first premiership in 1984.[3] The women's team meanwhile reached four straight grand finals between 1983 and 1986, losing in close encounters all four years.[4]

1989 saw the formation of the State Basketball League (SBL) with both a men's and women's competition. Cockburn, trading as the Cougars, entered a team into both the Men's SBL and Women's SBL.[5] In 1992, the Cougars reached their first MSBL Grand Final and won their first championship with a 107–94 victory over the Souwest Slammers.[4] In 1993, the Cougars made their second straight MSBL Grand Final, where they were defeated 109–91 by the Wanneroo Wolves.[4] In 1998, the Cougars won their first minor premiership with a first-place finish and a 20–4 record.[6] They went on to reach their third MSBL Grand Final, where they were defeated 105–96 by the Slammers.[4]

In 2003, the Cougars finished first in the MSBL's seven-team South Conference with a 16–3 record.[6] They went on to reach their fourth MSBL Grand Final, where they were defeated 76–72 by the Perry Lakes Hawks.[4] Season 2004 saw the men's team claim their third minor premiership with a 21–3 record, while the women's team had their best regular season with a second-place finish and a 17–3 record.[6]

Success eluded the club until 2012, when the Cougars reached their fifth MSBL Grand Final. There they defeated the East Perth Eagles 105–72 behind a Grand Final MVP performance from import Jeremiah Wilson.[7][8][9] In 2016, the Cougars were crowned minor premiers for the fourth time with a first-place finish and a 22–4 record.[10][11] They went on to reach their sixth MSBL Grand Final, where they defeated the Joondalup Wolves 96–84 behind Grand Final MVP Rhett Della to win their third championship.[12]

In 2021, the SBL was rebranded as NBL1 West.[13][14] In 2023, the women's team collected their first ever minor premiership with a first-place finish and an 18–2 record. The 90% winning record marked the best record in club history, men's or women's.[15] They went on to reach their first ever grand final,[16][17][18] where they won their maiden championship with a 68–61 win over the Willetton Tigers.[19][20][21]