Perth Wildcats Partner with Defence West

The Perth Wildcats are proud to announce a new partnership with the WA Government that will strengthen community engagement with basketball, healthy and active lifestyles, as well as WA’s defence industry and the career pathways and economic benefits it provides.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes a framework for the Wildcats and the WA Government to work together on initiatives that connect Western Australians with experiences and opportunities across the State’s defence sector.

Basketball’s established popularity in WA continues to grow and is underpinned by the sport’s long-standing cultural prominence in the United States and the United Kingdom, Australia’s two closest allies and formal defence partners within the AUKUS trilateral partnership.

Administered by Defence West, the MoU also recognises the increasing presence of allied forces in WA and the interests of personnel who will rotate through HMAS Stirling under AUKUS.

From as early as 2027, HMAS Stirling will host Submarine Rotational Force – West, comprising one UK and up to four US conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines and their personnel. Given basketball’s popularity across these two nations, the new MoU is expected to provide a welcoming cultural and recreational connection point for visiting naval communities and their families.

The Wildcats’ broader community footprint in WA, including school programs, regional tours, youth development initiatives and a national supporter base, offers a unique avenue to highlight the scale, diversity and importance of WA’s defence industry.

This is the third sporting code added to the State’s existing defence-related MoUs, following previous partnership announcements with Rugby WA and the Fremantle Dockers.

Through the partnership, the WA Government and the Wildcats will explore co-hosted events, leadership and development activities, opportunities for defence industry participation in Wildcats programs, and new ways to support veterans, students and emerging talent across defence, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and defence industries.

Perth Wildcats Chief Revenue Officer Sam Fotu said the partnership represents an exciting opportunity for the club to connect with WA’s growing defence community.

“The Wildcats have always been about bringing people together, so we’re proud to partner with Defence West at such an important time for WA.

“As the defence community grows through AUKUS, basketball gives us a great opportunity to welcome personnel and their families, strengthen connections across the State and show young Western Australians where a future in the industry could take them.”

Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia said the partnership would help create new opportunities for Western Australians.

“This agreement brings together two great Western Australian strengths: our defence industry and our sporting culture in a way that creates new opportunities for the community.

“The Perth Wildcats have an exceptional ability to connect with people right across the State, and this partnership will help us use that reach to build awareness of the careers and capabilities within the State’s defence sector.

“By working with the Wildcats, we’re strengthening the connection between local communities and the defence activity taking place in our region, and creating more ways for Western Australians to get involved.”

For NBL27, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Card holders can now access concession pricing across Silver and Bronze memberships, starting from $29.10 per game.