PHOTO: Townsville Fire celebrate winning back-to-back WNBL championships. (ABC News: Isobel Roe)
October 3, 2016
The Australian League kicks off this Friday, October 7th with the Perth Lynx taking on the Uni Flames from Sydney. The WNBL has continued to grow its fan base as basketball is not the most popular sport in Australia. Some would argue that it’s not even the second favorite sport in the country. However, the women’s league continues to attract great talent from the WNBA each year. Australia also produces some of the best women’s basketball players in the world. With the likes of recently retired guard Penny Taylor, the great Lauren Jackson and current Olympian Elizabeth Cambage, the Aussies have proven to the world that they can compete on all levels. Last season, the Townsville Fire won the league championship, their second in a row. Anchored by Cayla George who had a stint in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury and Natalie Novosel who was drafted by the Washington Mystics in 2012. As more former and current WNBA players flock to the Outback to compete in the WNBL, this league will soon become one of the best in the world. Be sure to follow along as these 8 teams battle to become the newest WNBL champion.
ROUND 1
FRI OCT 7 7:30 PM SYDNEY UNI VS PERTH
SAT OCT 8 3:00 PM UC CAPITALS VS DANDENONG
SAT OCT 8 7:30 PM BENDIGO VS ADELAIDE
SUN OCT 9 1:00 PM TOWNSVILLE VS PERTH
SUN OCT 9 3:00 PM MELBOURNE VS ADELAIDE
Former and Current WNBA Players Competing in the WNBL For the 2016-2017 Season;
Samantha Logic (ADELAIDE LIGHTNING)
Blake Dietrick (BENDIGO SPIRIT)
Kelsey Griffin (BENDIGO SPIRIT)
Ally Malott (DANDENONG RANGERS)
Natalie Novosel (DANDENONG RANGERS)
Chante Black (MELBOURNE BOOMERS)
Ruth Hamblin (PERTH LYNX)
Monica Wright (PERTH LYNX)
Jennifer Hamson (SYDNEY UNI FLAMES)
Leilani Mitchell (SYDNEY UNI FLAMES)
Belinda Snell (SYDNEY UNI FLAMES)
Asia Taylor (SYDNEY UNI FLAMES)
Suzy Batkovic (JCU TOWNSVILLE FIRE)
Natasha Cloud (JCU TOWNSVILLE FIRE)
Jazmon Gwathmey (CANBERRA CAPITALS)
Marianna Tolo (CANBERRA CAPITALS)