WNBL Announce Fixture, Expanded Broadcast Deal
The Women’s National Basketball League will tip off at the end of October.
The WNBL has today unveiled its fixture for the 2024-25 season, with Australia’s longest-running elite women’s sporting competition scheduled to tip off its 45th edition on October 30.
Spanning five months from October to March, the season will see several athletes fresh of the Paris Olympics as well as several stars from both home and abroad.
“In unveiling the fixture today, we are excited for the fans to see what the 45th season has to offer, the incredible matchups, the rivalries, the world class players, this season will be special” Head of the WNBL Christy Collier-Hill said.
“To have Olympians from the Opals and Gangurrus as well as WNBA stars playing, continues to position the WNBL as one of the best leagues in the world.
Three of the four history-making 3X3 Gangurrus from Paris will be in the league - Allh Wilson and Anneli Maley (Perth Lynx) and Lauren Mansfield (Townsville Fire). On top of that, several of the bronze-winning Opals including Jade Melbourne, Cayla George, Izzy Borlase and Marianna Tolo, who returns to the WNBL this season after several seasons overseas.
A new team enters the league in 2024-25, with Geelong United announced as the eighth and newest franchise. The new kids on the block won’t have to wait long for their first game, as they will host Townsville Fire in the season opener on October 30.
This season will see WNBL return to free TV for the first time in five years, with a Sunday afternoon marquee game each week on 9GO in high definition. The WNBL will be watchable by more sports fans than ever before after the League extended its partnership with ESPN, as it continues to deliver ‘WNBL Wednesday’s on ESPN’ and all Finals games. ESPN will also continue to provide strong coverage for fans through social and digital. ESPN’s WNBL programming will also be available via Foxtel, Kayo Sports, and Sky Sports NZ.
Highlights of the fixture include the return of Indigenous Round (Round 4, November 20-24) and Period Poverty Round (Round 13, January 22-25. The Semi Finals will take place in late February-early March, with the Grand Final series to follow.
Sydney Flames will take four of their games to Qudos Bank Arena as double headers with men’s side Sydney Kings with the remainder at QuayCentre, while Perth Lynx will play three games at HBF Stadium in addition to their traditional home court at Bendat. Meanwhile the UC Capitals return to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra to play their home games in 2024-25. Defending champions Southside will have to wait until their third match of the season to see their team at home when they welcome the Sydney Flames.
The full fixture can be seen at wnbl.basketball or on the WNBL App.