Bassett to remain at Fever
Star goal shooter Caitlin Bassett has recommitted to West Coast Fever for 2015.
But the Fever suffered a huge blow when two-times club champion Eboni Beckford-Chambers was announced as a new signing for 2013 ANZ Championship winners Adelaide yesterday.
Losing the England defender after three seasons made retaining Bassett, the club's only home-grown international player, even more important.
Bassett, who has been at the Perth franchise since the ANZ Championship started and with the Perth Orioles prior to that, said she rejected offers from rival clubs to stay at the Fever.
Bassett signed a one-year agreement rather than two because she wanted to re-evaluate her position after next year's world championships.
Speaking from an Australian Diamonds camp in Canberra ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games later this month, the 26-year-old said she was happy with the appointment of former assistant Stacey Rosman as coach and was excited about the future of the club.
"It's never an easy decision to make, especially since Fever haven't been performing as well as we would have liked over the last few years," Bassett said.
"With Stacey now leading the team, it's going to be a really exciting 2015 and I really want to be a part of it.
"We have known each other for a very long time, she's a very good leader and just all-round positive person, so I think she'll do a great job."
Bassett was disappointed when she was left out of the Fever's leadership group this season and is looking forward to stepping up again under Rosman.
"It's important next year that it's a clean slate," she said.
"We get the chance to start afresh, which doesn't happen very often, and I think it's time that we really start building a good culture at Fever.
"It's time for all of us to step up, not just one or two players, but all of the players on the court.
"They need to realise, whether they have got a title or not, they are a leader and they need to behave that way."
The club has also signed exciting young midcourter Ingrid Colyer on a two-year deal.
Colyer, 20, has impressed as a replacement player over the past two seasons but will fulfil a dream by taking up a permanent place on the Fever's list in 2015.
The pint-sized speedster from Karridale said she was looking forward to completing her first pre-season at the club.
"It's the best feeling ever, I am just really excited," she said.
