Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic featured franchises for the first time, with the overall aim of increasing the public profile of the sport in New Zealand. The inaugural competition was contested between ten teams, including the Waikato Wildcats and the Bay of Plenty Magic. At the end of the first season both teams finished at the bottom of the ladder, with the Wildcats 9th and the Bay of Plenty Magic last. Both teams decided to merge for the 1999 season: a new franchise was developed adopting the team name from Bay of Plenty and the colours of Waikato, becoming the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic. Bay
2011 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic season round-robin season in second place with a 10–3 win–loss record, which included wins in Australia against the Fever and Thunderbirds. Progressing to the finals stage, the Magic were defeated 50–39 by the Queensland Firebirds in the major semi-final. They hosted the Mystics in the preliminary final, but were defeated 42–43 in a closely fought match, ending their 2011 season in third place. 2011 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic season The 2011 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic season was the fourth year that the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic contested the ANZ Championship, and the thirteenth year of their competitive history.