The Geelong Venom are an Australian professional basketball team based in Geelong, Victoria. The Venom compete in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and play their home games at Geelong Arena.
Beginning as the Bulleen Boomers in 1984, the team underwent a name change in 2013 to Melbourne Boomers. In 2024, the Boomers' WNBL licence was transferred to Geelong United Basketball. In 2025, the team underwent a rebrand from Geelong United to Geelong Venom.
Bulleen-Templestowe Basketball Club (BTBC) was established in 1969. In 1984, BTBC secured a licence to join the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), marking the debut of the Bulleen Boomers.
The Boomers were first coached by Trevor Cook, with the initial team including Michele Timms and Samantha Thornton. The club first qualified for the WNBL finals in 1989 under the guidance of coach Paul Deacon, and, after progressing to the same stage the following year, missed the playoffs until 1996. In coach Lori Chizik's first season, Bulleen finished third in the regular season before bowing out in the semi-finals. Chizik led the Boomers to the 1999âÂÂ2000 preliminary final, marking the club's best-ever result to that point. Cheryl Chambers then took over in 2001âÂÂ02 and steered the club to two finals appearances, including the 2004âÂÂ05 preliminary final. Katrina Hibbert and Hollie Grima formed the backbone of the Boomers during the 2000s. Hibbert won back-to-back League MVP awards during the 2004âÂÂ05 and 2005âÂÂ06 seasons.
Bulleen made four straight WNBL grand finals between 2008âÂÂ09 and 2011âÂÂ12, winning their first championship in 2010âÂÂ11 behind Desiree Glaubitz, Sharin Milner, Liz Cambage, Rachel Jarry, Jenna O'Hea and coach Tom Maher.
In 2013, BTBC changed the team name to Melbourne Boomers to target a wider area of population and boost crowd numbers. The team also changed its colours from blue and gold to purple and gold, and moved their home games to the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna. In 2014, Deakin University joined as a naming rights partner. In 2016, a new ownership group took over the Boomers' license from BTBC.
In the 2017âÂÂ18 season, the Boomers reached the grand final but lost to the Townsville Fire. In the 2021âÂÂ22 season, the Boomers won their second WNBL championship under coach Guy Molloy.
In March 2024, Geelong United Basketball (GUB) and a consortium of local private investors from Geelong expressed interest in acquiring the Boomers' licence after the Boomers' ownership group looked to transfer its licence. Two months later, the license was officially transferred to GUB, with the team moving to Geelong under a new brand Geelong United. In the 2024âÂÂ25 WNBL season, Geelong United finished in seventh place with a 6âÂÂ15 record.
On 1 July 2025, GUB rebranded the WNBL team as Geelong Venom.
The franchise has had a number of home venues, including Sheahan's Road Basketball Centre, Keilor Basketball Stadium, Melbourne Entertainment Centre, the Veneto Club, State Basketball Centre (2013âÂÂ2023), and Parkville Stadium (2021âÂÂ2024).
With the move to Geelong in 2024, the home venue shifted to Geelong Arena.