Lightning’s Lauren Mansfield, Marena Whittle and Brooke Basham unveil the club’s pride singlet.

Adelaide Lightning will be playing for pride as well as points in their WNBL home double this week.

The Lightning faces the Sydney Uni Flames on Thursday from 6.30pm at Adelaide 36ers Arena, followed by another home clash against Bendigo Spirit at 7pm on Saturday.

The round 10 fixtures will be crucial to Adelaide’s bid to improve on its sixth-placed ladder position and push for finals contention.

But the Lightning’s mission will stretch beyond on-court wins and losses when it pulls on its Pride jersey as the only WNBL club to support the LGBTIQA+ community by celebrating the round this season.

With rainbow flashing in its signature lightning bolt and on its singlet and short trim, the Lightning is embracing its maiden Pride Round effort.

“Sport plays a huge role in society in bringing people together no matter their preference, and we are truly honoured to partner with Queer Sporting Alliance, who do an amazing job of celebrating the LGBTIQA+ community,”

Lightning general manager Reece Turner said. The Lightning’s involvement is in partnership with the Queer Sporting Alliance, for which star guard Marena Whittle is an ambassador.

“For me, pride is all about the celebration of people and inclusion. In my eyes, it gives everyone an opportunity to be seen, heard and respected,” Whittle said.