GAME CENTRE
THE chance to captain her home-town team was enough to convince sharp-shooter Kate Kingham to return for another NBL1 East season with the Newcastle Falcons.
The 21-year-old guard was considering her options during the off-season but has agreed to terms to suit up for her third NBL1 East campaign, in which she will captain the Falcons with support from American import and reigning NBL1 East MVP Nicole Munger.
“I am so excited to be coming back for another season with Newcastle. All the support and love we get from our Falcons community, you truly cannot find that anywhere else,” Kingham said.
“Being a Newcastle junior, I’ve always been proud to represent my home town. To be given the opportunity to captain the team this year is a dream come true for me.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what our group can achieve this year and taking that one step further towards a championship.”
The Falcons have been among the pace-setters during the regular seasons of 2022 and 2023, only to be eliminated in the first round of the play-offs.
Kingham averaged 10.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and two assists a game in 2023, and was sixth in the league in made three-point shots (55), connecting at 35%. Her best effort was nine three-pointers in a season-high 31-point haul in Newcastle’s 123-47 rout of Hornsby in Newcastle on June 17.
“I am thrilled to have long-standing Falcons player Kate Kingham return to the court in 2024,” Falcons women’s coach Kristy Bultitude said.
“Not only is Kate returning as our shooting guard, she will lead the team as captain with the support of Nicole Munger. It is an exciting opportunity for Kate to lead this group throughout the season.”
The youngest member of a Merewether basketball family, Kingham followed her older brothers Ben and Nicholas into the sport and played all her juniors for the City Limits club.
Kingham represented NSW Country in Under 16s and Under 18s. She enjoyed two years representing NSW in Under 20s, helping the Blues win the national championship in 2021.
Away from basketball, Kingham is in her final year at the University of Newcastle, where she is studying to be a primary school teacher.
Main photo and graphic: Sproule Sports Focus
