Heal's 'conspiracy' claim against Flames no slam dunk

A judge has found the Sydney Flames suspended Shane Heal as head coach because of player complaints. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

An Australian basketball great and former Olympian has had the bulk of his lawsuit against a team he once coached dismissed.

Shane Heal, 53, sued the Women's National Basketball League club Sydney Flames after multiple players came forward with claims against the former coach, leading to his suspension in January 2023 amid an external investigation.

Heal sued in February 2023 when told he would not receive the investigation’s report and asked to show why his employment should not be terminated.

Shane Heal (L) lights Olympic Cauldron in 2004 (file image)
Heal was a four-time Olympian in a 21-year playing career before his coaching ended with the Flames.

But the Flames suspended him in response to the players’ complaints, Federal Court Justice John Halley ruled on Friday.

There was a breach of contract when Heal was not paid commissions for procuring sponsorships and the Flames made a separate admission it failed to promptly provide payslips.

Justice Halley dismissed the rest of the lawsuit, ordering both parties negotiate a penalty before another hearing in May.

Heal claimed the complaints were a “smoke screen” to get rid of him.

That suggested a conspiracy, which would also have to involve the independent investigator.

“I am satisfied there was no plausible evidence from which I could find that such a conspiracy existed,” Justice Halley said.

Tiana Mangakahia (file image)
Tiana Mangakahia said Heal regularly singled her out.

Ex-player Tiana Mangakahia told the court Heal regularly singled her out and it was a running joke in the team that herself and American Hannah Sjerven were “roasted” regularly.

During hearings in 2023, the court was told 22-year-old Shyla Heal, the marquee player on the team her father coached, was “harassed” and “manhandled” by another coach as she shot hoops away from the team the day Heal was suspended. 

That complaint “disappeared into the ether,” despite the Flames acting quickly on other complaints “when it suits them”, Heal’s barrister Glenn Fredericks said.

Following a loss to the Perth Lynx on January 7, 2023, a players-only dinner, excluding coaching staff and the head coach’s daughter, decided to inform management players were upset by Heal’s conduct.

Flames president Victoria Denholm noticed Mangakahia looked upset at training two days later, before captain Keely Froling informed her about the team’s terrible morale.

Shane Heal (file image)
The court ruled Heal was not asserting workplace rights, but criticising the club president.

Heal claimed he was targeted after exercising his workplace rights, alleging he complained when not consulted regarding the playing schedule, when he had been.

He also argued a player he wanted to recruit was not offered a contract, but they already received a higher offer than the club could table and rejected an offer six months earlier.

Heal alleged Ms Denholm undermined him, making comments indicating she did not support a man coaching the team after becoming president in December 2022, before allegedly using an aggressive tone with him a week before his suspension.

The court ruled it was more likely an exasperated and frustrated tone and Heal accepted Ms Denholm had not raised her voice or physically intimidated him.

“She’s just emotional mate. She just wants to win,” Heal recounted Flames chief executive Christopher Pongrass responding when he told him about their interaction.

Shyla Heal (file image)
Shyla Heal has been named in the Opals squad for the upcoming Olympics.

Mr Pongrass said he instead described Ms Denholm as “passionate”.

She denied making the alleged comments about the team having a middle-aged man coaching.

The court ruled Heal was not asserting workplace rights, but criticising Ms Denholm, having not requested any action to protect him.

Heal's 21-year playing career took him around the world, playing in the NBA and European leagues in addition to a storied NBL career in Australia, a league he also coached in.

He played for the Boomers at four Olympics.

Shyla Heal has been named, alongside Froling, in the Opals squad for the upcoming Olympics after debuting in the WNBL aged 14 and winning a championship with the Townsville Fire in 2023.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store