The Sydney Flames have named Karen Dalton and Belinda Snell as the joint inaugural winners of the Hall of Eternal Flames.
The Hall of Eternal Flames was created to recognise the people who have had the greatest impact on the club, both on and off the court, since its beginnings in 1981 as the Bankstown Bruins.
Following a fan and member vote from a shortlist of five nominees, Dalton and Snell were selected as the first inductees.
They will be formally honoured next season at a Sydney Flames home game.
About the Hall of Eternal Flames
The Hall of Eternal Flames recognises leadership, service, character and contribution to the Flames legacy, and is designed to be an honour the entire Sydney basketball community can stand behind.
A selection panel comprising Matthew Denholm, Hoops Capital Executive Director; Jenni Screen, Flames Special Advisor and two-time Olympic medallist; Lorraine Landon, Basketball Australia Hall of Fame; and John Davidson, WNBL Life Member shortlisted the inaugural nominees. Fans and members then voted to determine the first inductees.
Two names, one legacy
Karen Dalton
Karen Dalton played 375 games for the Sydney Flames across 19 consecutive seasons, the most in club history. A one-club player, she was a constant presence during the club’s formative years and remains one of the most influential figures the Flames have produced.
As an Australian Opal, Dalton represented her country 342 times as a player and coach, including appearances at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. She also competed at three World Championships and later served as assistant coach at the Athens 2004 Olympics, helping guide the Opals to a silver medal.
After retiring, Dalton returned to the Flames as head coach, leading the team to the 2001/02 WNBL Championship, six Grand Finals and earning WNBL Coach of the Year honours in 2003. She is a member of the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame and a WNBL Life Member.
“As a one club player, Karen was a tenacious player still near the top of WNBL games played and rebounding lists,” said Matt Denholm. “As a decorated player, coach and administrator she was named to the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame. We are thrilled to have joint inductees and recognising figures that did so much for the Sydney Basketball scene."
Belinda Snell
Belinda Snell played 226 WNBL games for the Sydney Flames and remains one of the club’s most recognisable players. A four-time WNBL All-Star with Sydney, she won the league scoring title in 2005.
Snell’s career also included three Olympic Games with the Australian Opals, where she won silver medals in 2004 and 2008 and bronze in 2012. She was part of the gold-medal winning team at the 2006 World Championships.
She is still the WNBL single-game scoring record holder, with 54 points scored in a Flames jersey. Snell also won a WNBA Championship in 2007 and multiple WNBL titles, including two with Sydney.
“We are proud to name one of Australia’s most fierce competitors, Belinda Snell, as one of the inaugural Hall of Eternal Flames members,” said Denholm.
“As a three-time WNBL Champion, including two with the Flames, Belinda was successful at the highest-level spanning decades. She was also a certified bucket, still holding the WNBL single game scoring record with 54 points, while wearing a Flames jersey.
“We are proud to recognise our Flames history and both Karen and Belinda are incredibly worthy winners from a cohort of amazing Flames trailblazers. We are excited that this is just the beginning as our club continues to honour and recognise our legacy.”
