WNBL Season To Tip-Off In November

The 2020 WNBL season will tip-off in November and be played in a Queensland hub.

A revised season structure will see the season begin on November 12, with each team to play 14 games as part of a 56-game regular season fixture, plus a four game final series (two semi-finals, preliminary final and grand final).

The revised season model will see all eight WNBL teams relocate to North Queensland for the season, which will be played over a condensed six-week format with the Grand Final scheduled for Sunday 20 December.

Mackay Basketball Stadium will hold eight games, Cairns Pop-Up Arena will showcase 20 games, with a combined 32 games to be played at Townsville Stadium and Townsville Entertainment Centre, including the entire final series.

“The passion and commitment of all involved in the league and their unwavering love of Australian basketball are the core reasons why players, coaches, officials and club staff will be making significant sacrifices to ensure the 2020 Chemist Warehouse WNBL season is contested,” Basketball Australia Head of Women in Basketball Lauren Jackson said.

“The WNBL is one of the world’s best elite basketball leagues and we have such depth in talent within Australian women’s basketball.

“The 2020 season plays a pivotal role in preparing the Chemist Warehouse Australian Opals for two important global tournaments and I want to thank all parties for the selfless and big picture approach in wanting to ensure the season went ahead."

Numerous NBL1 players from all three conferences will compete in the WNBL season. In further news, WNBL roster sizes will increase to 12 this season.  

“The support from the Queensland Government ensures we are able to deliver the season in 2020, providing a stage for Australia’s best established and emerging talent to contest the 41st edition of Australia’s longest-running elite women’s sporting competition, the Chemist Warehouse WNBL,” Basketball Australia CEO Jerril Rechter said.

“On behalf of Basketball Australia, the WNBL clubs, players, coaches, officials, members and fans, I would like to thank Premier Palaszczuk and Minister Kate Jones for their visionary support of women’s basketball in Australia.

“Basketball Australia has been working in partnership with the eight club owners via their participation and collaboration on the WNBL Commission since the beginning of the pandemic.

“We all agreed it was critical to deliver the season and ensure the league puts a much-needed smile on the face of our fans and members, maintains the growth of women’s basketball throughout Australia, and continues to inspire future generations of players, coaches and officials.

“All of this as basketball finds itself on the doorstep of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics where the Chemist Warehouse Australian Opals are eyeing glory again and, just twelve months later, the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will be hosted by Sydney.”