The real story behind Kerryn Mitchell’s departure from the Lightning

There have been non-stop questions around the sudden - and surprising - decision by the Adelaide Lightning to part ways with their head coach. Let’s explain.

Photo credit: Dan Cowley / Images by Dan

The biggest question still lingered: why?

Why would a team part ways with their newly installed head coach just eight games into her tenure? Why would a team make that decision just days after an epic overtime win in front of a raucous home crowd? Why would the narrative around the decision appear to be so cryptic?

The basketball world moves quickly. Since the decision to part ways, the Lightning have signed a replacement player for Serena Sundell, played two games, and most notably, appointed Aja Parham-Ammar as their interim head coach. Still, that burning question of why has been the biggest story of the WNBL so far this season. But the real story isn’t as salacious, scandalous, or sordid as social media might suggest.

Let’s unpack why the Lightning parted ways with Kerryn Mitchell.