The Thunder Selects basketball program of Halifax has been around well over two decades.
Providing a club basketball program for girls that travels far and wide to find top-flight competition has always been the mantra for founder and chief operating officer, Brandon Rafuse.
Through over 20 years, the off-season teams have produced a number of university-level talent and with that in mind, Rafuse had an idea when the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association came calling in the winter of 2021.
At his disposal, Rafuse had a contact list of numerous Thunder alumni from present-day to retired players.
It was a simple question he started asking many women back then.
‘Would you be interested in wearing the Thunder uniform again.”
It certainly worked.
From Thunder Selects youth teams to the MWBA’s Halifax Thunder, the organization is as close to a dynasty as the league has seen through five seasons.
Halifax has won three PROLINE Legacy Cup championships including last June. It adds to titles captured in 2023 and 2024.
Thunder has been to four of five league finals, ironically losing in the MWBA’s inaugural season after going 10-0 in the regular season, falling to arch-rival Halifax Hornets in front of a throng at Saint Mary’s University.
The Thunder faces have changed over the five seasons, but at the core is the the youth program alumni and their teammates from other schools across the country.
Halifax is a tough out in the MWBA.
It certainly makes other teams raise their levels.
We.Are.Here.
In Halifax.
– Jen Morehouse Graphic/City of Halifax Photo
