Basketball On The Internet.

FOR a basketball club that was on the bones of its backside less than two months ago, Adelaide Lightning have bounced back in no uncertain terms.

Today announcing Leilani Mitchell as the club’s No.1 signing for the 2015-16 WNBL season, Adelaide officials rightly could be forgiven for giving themselves an extended pat on the back.

Mitchell, 30, has been the WNBL’s premier point guard of the past two seasons, winning All Star Five selection in her 2013-14 debut with Dandenong Rangers and last season leading Sydney Uni Flames to the preliminary final.

The WNBL All Star Five last season wasn’t by designated positions, with Tess Madgen, Penny Taylor, Kelsey Griffin, Abby Bishop and Cayla Francis all multi-purpose players.

Few would dispute Mitchell would be in any discussion about the WNBL’s leading point guards so her status as the first player in Adelaide’s “rebuild” is huge.

Remember, not that long ago, Basketball Australia was extending deadlines to ensure the Lightning could survive and it was only when the Motor Accident Commission jumped aboard that Adelaide drove out of near-extinction.

“Leilani will be fantastic for us,” Adelaide’s rookie coach Tracy York said.

“She has a proven track record in the WNBA and has become a key player in our national team.

“To have a player of Leilani’s calibre is invaluable. She’s experienced at playing at the highest levels and will bring that leadership into our new team.”

LEADERSHIP: Leilani Mitchell is a huge coup as Lightning's first signing.

And York will be looking for experienced leadership.

A no-nonsense teaching coach, York was the perfect choice for an Adelaide in a rebuilding phase.

Previously she worked with Joey Wright and Marty Clarke as an assistant with the Adelaide 36ers and also assisted at the Adelaide Lightning after being the ground-breaking first woman to coach a men’s team in the SA State League.

The architect of Woodville’s 2005 men’s championship – completed by fellow 36ers assistant Kevin Brooks when York was appointed Technical Director of the Basketball Association of Singapore – York twice (2004, 2011) has been named SA’s Coach of the Year in the men’s State League (now Premier League) competition.

Mitchell fits the bill as the club’s first signing, a super-talented point guard who will be the team’s on-court voice and one keen to be involved in the re-emergence of the Lightning.

The club expects to have more player announcements next week.

Online at News Corp

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