Isaac
Years ago

WNBL adds New Zealand franchise

Basketball NZ has been granted a WNBL license and will enter the Christchurch Wildcats from the 2007/08 season onwards.

Assuming its approved by FIBA, this means the WNBL will be expanded from eight teams to ten with the entrance of a Bendigo-based franchise this coming season also.

The Christchurch Wildcats will become the first professional women's team to contest an Australian league, following in the footsteps of male counterparts the Breakers (basketball), the Warriors (rugby league), the Knights (soccer), and the Stingrays (water polo).
More opportunities for players and increased diversity for what was a quite small eight-team league as well.

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DA VOICE  
Years ago

The press release mentions that they are hoping the majority of the national team will make up the WNBL side. ???Angela Marino from Perth. ???Donna Loffhagen from Canberra (hasn't resigned with Capitals - maybe she knew something). Are there any other NZ players in the WNBL?

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Dr Damage  
Years ago

This is terrific for the league and the competition in general.
The cost of running a franchise must have just gone up considerably.
3 rounds each at 27 games per season?
Or new format?
Dilutes the league a little, do we have the depth of talent to maintain the standards?

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Sector 7G  
Years ago

I think we can sustain 10 teams. There's plenty of good bench players in the league that deserve more court time - just look at the Lightning team.

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Sween  
Years ago

Somewhere is Oz there is a little town call Brisbane that should be mighty embarrassed. Surely they could muster up the bucks to get 12 chicks of standard to hit the pine in this comp too.

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Dr Damage  
Years ago

Only 6 of eight teams are currently competitive!
Both Bendigo and Perth will still find it hard next year...specially if wilson plays for Dandenong.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Yep doc and of those 2 teams not competitive at least 1 of them is not just struggling on the court, i heard that perth will be able to field a team 07/08 but beyond that will struggle unless they can find some new backers.

Supposedly their biggest backer the government is looking to get out of their sponsorship of the team. They have told them that they have 1 year left and after that they are on their own.

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123abc  
Years ago

This is great news for the WNBL

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Aneka Kerr is from New Zealand and plays in the WNBL for Dandenong (was townsville)

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Angela to Wildcats as well.
Perth could have nothing!
Pickup Ranford I suppose.

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yogee  
Years ago

Great news for expansion of the league.

Dont think it will dilute at all.

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thomo  
Years ago

good to see the league expand another quality match to watch

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Big Kahuna  
Years ago

I did hear a couple of weeks ago that Cairns are looking to enter the WNBL as well.

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Qlder  
Years ago

Bris are weak as .... alright.
Cairns in 2008.

Reply #118562 | Report this post




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