Perth Lynx

Perth Breakers (1988–2001)

Originally formed as the Perth Breakers in 1988, the club was successful for many years under that moniker. The Breakers appeared in the WNBL finals every year between 1991 and 2000 (barring 1997), winning a championship in 1992 under coach Tom Maher. Australian basketball legends such as Robyn Maher, Tully Bevilaqua and Michele Timms played for the Breakers during this period.

Perth Lynx (2001–2010)

After a change of ownership in 2001 saw Basketball Western Australia take over operations of the franchise, the Breakers were re-branded as the Perth Lynx. However, the team failed to qualify for the postseason during the Perth Lynx moniker, as they finished no higher than seventh between 2001/02 and 2009/10. Regardless of the team's lack of on-court success, the Lynx were able to lure some star players to the program including Carly Wilson, Shelley Hammonds, Samantha Richards, Rohanee Cox and Deanna Smith.

West Coast Waves (2010–2015)

In 2010, the Lynx were re-branded as the West Coast Waves. In their first season as the Waves, the team finished with a record of 8 wins and 14 losses, its most successful season in over a decade. However, the following four seasons were not as successful, as the Waves won a total of 11 games between 2011/12 and 2014/15. In three seasons under coach Kennedy Kereama between 2012 and 2015, the Waves finished bottom of the ladder each season.

Return of the Lynx (2015–present)

On 16 April 2015, Perth Wildcats chairman and owner Dr. Jack Bendat and his family purchased the licence of Western Australia's Women's National Basketball League franchise. The team was subsequently renamed the Perth Lynx in order to operate under Perth Wildcats management.^[2] Three days later, former Perth Wildcats assistant coach Andy Stewart was named head coach of the Lynx.^[4] Headline signings for the Lynx included Natalie Burton, Louella Tomlinson, Carley Mijović, Tessa Lavey, and Americans Sami Whitcomb and Betnijah Laney. Throughout the 2015/16 season, Stewart was named WNBL Coach of the Month for November,^[5] Laney was named WNBL Player of the Month for January,^[6] and Whitcomb earned an equal league-high eight Team of the Week honours.^[7] The Lynx finished the regular season in second place with a 16–8 record, qualifying for the finals for the first time since 2000.^[8] They went on to make their way through to their first WNBL Grand Final since 1999,^[9] where they were defeated in straight sets by the Townsville Fire.

In 2017/18, the Lynx started the season 0–3 before dropping to 1–4. Behind backcourt duo Courtney Williams and Sami Whitcomb, the Lynx went on a 14-game win streak to clinch the minor premiership with two games to go.^[10] However, they went on to lose their final four games of the season, including enduring a semi-final sweep at the hands of the Melbourne Boomers. Their schedule to finish the season included seven flights in eight days, with games in Canberra and Townsville in the final round, before playing in Melbourne for game one of the semi-finals series. They bowed out of the finals with a 78–69 loss to the Boomers in game two in Perth.^[11]

In March 2018, Jack Bendat extended the club's licence agreement.^[12]