The 2012 Adelaide Thunderbirds season saw Adelaide Thunderbirds compete in the 2012 ANZ Championship. After winning nine games doing the regular season, Thunderbirds finished fourth and qualified for the play-offs. However they subsequently lost the minor semi-final 49âÂÂ48 to the eventual overall champions, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.
In November 2011, Thunderbirds signed Jhaniele Fowler, the Jamaica international. However the deal depended upon Carla Borrego, a former Jamaica international, successfully becoming an Australian citizen and thus freeing up Thunderbirds' export place for Fowler. This did not happen in time for the start of the season and the deal collapsed.
On 2, 3 and 4 March, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic hosted a pre-season tournament at the TECT Arena in Tauranga. For the first time since 2008, all ten ANZ Championship teams competed at the same tournament. The ten teams were divided into two pools of five. Teams within each pool played each other once and the winners qualified for the final. Thunderbirds finished the tournament in 7th place.
Adelaide Thunderbirds received a bye.