Our people. Our stories. Our history: Raquel “Raq” Muia

It lives in the fans who fill the stands, the families who pass down traditions, the performers who bring the energy, the staff who work behind the scenes, and the generations who proudly wear the Wildcats logo.

Together, they continue to shape the stories, history and feeling that make the Perth Wildcats more than a team.

To begin sharing those stories, we start with Raquel “Raq” Muia, whose journey has crossed eras, roles and generations — from one of the club’s original dancers to now helping shape the game night experience as Game Night Producer & Entertainment Manager.

From the Perth Entertainment Centre to RAC Arena, her story reflects the passion, belonging and community that continue to connect people to this club.

This is Raquel Muia.

Known by many as Raq, her connection to the Perth Wildcats began nearly four decades ago, when she auditioned to become one of the club’s dancers.

“My journey with the Perth Wildcats started in the late 80s when I auditioned to be a Town & Country Perth Wildcats dancer.”

“I remember my first day of performing at the Perth Entertainment Center. It was surreal. It seemed massive meeting the players who are now your legends.”

For Raq, those early years were unforgettable. The newly rebranded Perth Wildcats were building something that would become bigger than basketball, and she was part of the energy helping bring it to life.

“When I think of that era, I just think electric, excitement… there is a rush that I just can’t explain.”

“It was a time that I would love to relive over and over. Everything was new, it was huge.” 

That feeling hasn’t disappeared, if anything Raq believes it’s a testament to the fans, now known as the Red Army, and how they’ve stood the test of time to remain one of the most intimidating crowds in the nation. 

“Walking into RAC Arena and hearing that same crowd and feeling that same energy is just, just priceless.”

“To think that what seemed so massive back then has just travelled through the decades. I'm super proud to have been part of that.”

A key memory for Raq was the Wildcats’ inaugural NBL Championship back in 1990, where she travelled alongside the team as they took on the Brisbane Bullets and their 13,221 fans - at the time the highest-attended NBL game in history.

“Eight of us dancers were flown over. We lost our voices. We were screaming and we had to go stand in an aisle. Can you imagine, like the abuse that we copped? Because the more we won, the louder we were getting, the fans were giving it to us and we were just giving it back.”

For Raq, the moment became unforgettable because of the way the dancers were embraced by the team, the club and the fans.

“Going on that court and Trevor Torrance spraying champagne all over us on the court… it was something that was unbelievable.”

“Then to come home to the greeting that we got. I remember Cal Bruton (Head Coach) pushing us dancers forward, making us part of the team and just seeing all these fans just screaming.” 

“​​It wasn't just the fans that made it electric, it was the fact that the club, the team who had just won that championship were including us. That for me is something I will never, ever forget.” 

In 2024, Raq’s contribution to the club was formally recognised when she was inducted into the Perth Wildcats Hall of Fame — a fitting acknowledgement of a journey that has spanned eras, roles and generations.

That feeling of inclusion has stayed with Raq, and it is something she now carries into her role leading the modern-day Perth Wildcats Dancers, particularly when it comes to the next generation of young girls.

“The one consistent is the amount of young girls who will come up to me or the dancers and want a picture, or play with the pom poms. Their parents will say to us, ‘We come to basketball because my daughter loves you all.’”

“It’s really the greatest thing that you could possibly hear.”

For the dancers, game night is more than a performance. It is a chance to connect with the crowd, lift the atmosphere and play a part in the experience that makes Wildcats basketball feel different.

“When you're performing on that court, you're so caught up in the moment, the music, trying to do your job. But I think one thing that you do notice is the fans' reaction.”

“There is no other feeling than running out on that court and knowing that you get to perform and do something that you love so passionately in a room full of fans.”

Raq also credits the connections that she has built as a driving force that keeps her returning season after season. 

“The connections and relationships that I have with past players, present players, it's really humbling in terms of watching them on court be the professionals and athletes they are and then just being awesome human beings.” 

“I feel we have such a great relationship and history, memories that we never really can stop talking about just shows the community and the culture, which for me personally keeps me coming back.”

Raq praises her dancers’ work ethic as unwavering, with countless hours spent behind the scenes perfecting their craft to perform each and every game night.

“I can't really tell you the endless dedication that the dancers have. It's not just 14 games, it's pretty much the whole season, seven days a week.”

“They are the most dedicated, passionate people because of the people around the culture, the connection, and who wouldn't want to be on that court and part of our atmosphere?”

For Raq, dance and basketball have always shared the same foundations: passion, commitment, sacrifice and pride — and the Wildcats have provided a platform for those worlds to come together.

From the Perth Entertainment Centre to RAC Arena, Raq has seen the Wildcats grow, change and evolve. But the feeling has remained.

The atmosphere. The belonging. The connection between the court and the crowd.

For nearly four decades, Raq has been part of that story — helping carry the energy of the Wildcats from one generation to the next.