By Roy Ward
The WNBL will have 68 regular season games plus selected finals livestreamed nationally on 9Now along with 16 games plus finals shown live on ESPN under a two-year broadcast deal.
For the first time, the WNBL will be paid a modest rights fee by both Nine, owner of this masthead, and ESPN to broadcast games while an overseas broadcast deal, which the league hopes will result in games being shown in several other countries including the United States, is also progressing well.
The Boomers won the WNBL title in the 2021-22 season.Credit:Getty Images
ESPN will screen a live game of the week each Wednesday night during the regular season while both Nine and ESPN plan to profile the league and its players in its programs to help build the WNBL’s reach.
The league is entering its 43rd consecutive season and will be follow the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney from September 22 to October 1 this year, which Basketball Australia hopes will draw more fans to the new season which tips off on November 2.
Lauren Jackson plans to return to the WNBL after playing in the World Cup and she has signed with the Southside Flyers while the Melbourne Boomers are looking to defend their championship despite coach Guy Molloy to the New Zealand national team and Opals centre Ezi Magbegor to Europe.
Opals and WNBA guard Sami Whitcomb is once again looking to lead the Perth Lynx to the long-awaited title.
The WNBL has also released its full fixture with the Boomers and Lynx to tip off the season at the Bendat Basketball Centre in Perth on Wednesday November 2
Jackson’s Flyers will begin their season at their new home of the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South against the Adelaide Lightning on November 5.
The Boomers and Flyers will face off at the State Basketball Centre for their first Michele Timms Cup clash on November 9.
Head of WNBL Christy Collier-Hill said the new deal gave the league a chance to reach new fans.
“This deal gives us a home for the next two years, which provides us with an enormous opportunity to really lift the profile of the league, the clubs and the incredible athletes that are part of it,” Collier-Hill said.
“The WNBL highlights some of the best basketball players in the world – Australian Opals, WNBA and international superstars. We want as many people as possible to be able to see these amazing athletes in action on and off the court, and this new broadcast deal provides us with that opportunity.”
Nine’s director of sport Brent Williams said WNBL fans could now follow games on whichever device they liked best.
“Nine and Wide World of Sports are thrilled to be partnering with one of the strongest, elite female basketball competitions in the world,” Williams said.
“9Now will provide the perfect destination for new and emerging fans of the WNBL to engage with the sport they love, at any time and on any device they choose.”
JAM TV has also signed on as the WNBL’s production partner for the next two seasons.
