- The Perth Wildcats will create history at RAC Arena on Friday night by wearing orange socks in support of the Cook Government's 16 Days in WA campaign
- The Wildcats become the first WA professional sporting team to wear the campaign colour in a competitive fixture
- Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister encouraging all Wildcats fans to join the campaign and wear something orange
The Perth Wildcats will create history on Friday night by wearing orange socks in support of the Cook Government's 16 Days in WA campaign, during their home National Basketball League (NBL) clash with the Brisbane Bullets at RAC Arena.
The Wildcats become the first Western Australian professional sporting team to play a competitive fixture wearing the campaign's theme colour, which seeks to end gender-based violence.
Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton today joined club captain Jesse Wagstaff to announce the orange sock initiative and has encouraged fans to add their own splash of orange amid the traditional sea of red worn at Wildcats' home matches.
The 2024 16 Days in WA campaign theme is 'Stopping Family and Domestic Violence: Play Your Part' - and the Wildcats will embody that message by stepping on court in orange socks in front of over 10,000 thousand Western Australians.
The distinctive orange hue will also be worn by the Brisbane Bullets, who have added their support, helping boost the campaign to a national audience.
In backing 16 Days in WA, the Perth Wildcats join other elite WA sporting clubs such as the West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers, and West Coast Fever in promoting the call to prevent gender-based violence.
Sporting organisations including Basketball WA are playing their part in stopping violence before it starts by participating in the State Government's Respectful Relationships Sport and Recreation Program pilot, which focuses on promoting healthy relationships in sport.
Women's NBL teams Perth Lynx and Canberra Capitals also held a dedicated domestic violence roundtable to raise awareness last year.
Now in its eighth year, 16 Days in WA continues to grow bigger every year as more communities, industries and organisations join the campaign to make change.
Further information about 16 Days in WA can be found online via the official campaign website .
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton:
"I am thrilled the Perth Wildcats have joined the 16 Days in WA campaign to prevent gender-based violence.
"I want to encourage all Wildcats fans to get behind their team and wear something orange to RAC Arena.
"As someone who is passionate about sport, I know Western Australians look up to their sporting heroes. The impact of professional athletes saying no to violence cannot be understated.
"I would like to thank the NBL for supporting the Wildcats' orange sock initiative for 16 Days in WA. I believe this can be the start of something big, not only for basketball, but for our community."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
"Sport has an important role to play in helping change attitudes and behaviours in a positive way.
"This initiative by the Perth Wildcats should be commended - it is a great example of sporting codes and teams showing leadership and taking initiative. Congratulations to the team and the club for taking this positive action."
As stated by Perth Wildcats Owner Mark Arena:
"We're proud to make history as the first professional sporting team in WA to change our socks to the 16 Days in WA campaign's orange during competition in support of such an important cause.
"As a family-first club, we want to help play our part in calling out violence against women.
"We urge the Red Army to follow suit with the players and wear orange to the game against Brisbane on Friday, 29 November at RAC Arena.
"We appreciate the support of the Bullets in also donning orange socks as we unite to shed light on the issue of gender-based violence."
