During the 1970s and 1980s, Australian women's basketball was successful in terms of attracting participants and having a competitive team on the international stages. This success did not translate into sponsorship and financial support for the sport.[1]

The WNBL was founded during the early 1980s to help improve the quality of the domestic play with the hope of providing a pathway for top Australian players to join the national team.[1]

Aboriginal women

Aboriginal women who have played basketball on a high level include Joanne Lesiputty. Lesiputty quit the sport to pursue a softball career. Laura Agius was an aboriginal basketball player who represented South Australia. Leonie Dickson and Bobbie Dillon, both Tasmanians, also represented their state on the national level.[2]

Wheelchair basketball

Women have been active in playing wheelchair basketball in Australia for several years. They first appeared on the Paralympic seen at the 1992 Summer Paralympics, despite women's wheelchair basketball being competed for at the Paralympics since 1968.[3] Notable players include Liesl Tesch and Donna Ritchie.[4][5]

Professional basketball

Women's basketball is nominally a professional sport in Australia. In 2009, the salaries for average players in the WNBL were not high enough to allow them to play basketball full-time: They made between $5,000 - $10,000 a year.[6]

Women's National Basketball League

WNBL Team City Arena Colours Joined WNBL Head Coach Ref
Women's National Basketball League
Adelaide Lightning Adelaide, SA Adelaide Arena Red, Yellow, Black, White 1992 Peter Buckle [7]
Australian Institute of Sport Canberra, ACT AIS Training Hall Blue, White, Red 1981 Phil Brown [8]
Bendigo Spirit Bendigo, VIC Schweppes Centre Sky Blue, Gold, White 2007 Bernie Harrower [9]
Bulleen Boomers Bulleen, VIC Veneto Club Blue, Gold 1984 Tom Maher [10]
Canberra Capitals Canberra, ACT AIS Arena Light Blue, White, Gold 1986 Carrie Graf [11][12]
Dandenong Rangers Dandenong, VIC Dandenong Basketball Stadium Bottle Green, Gold 1992 Mark Wright [13]
Logan Thunder Logan, QLD Logan Metro Purple, Burgundy, Gold 2008 Olaf Lange [14]
Sydney Flames Sydney, NSW Sydney University Blue, Gold, White 1989 Karen Dalton [15]
Townsville Fire Townsville, QLD Townsville RSL Stadium Black, Red, Orange 2001 Chris Lucas [16]
West Coast Waves Perth, WA WA Basketball Centre Green, Yellow, Black 1990 David Herbert [17]

Overseas players

Australian athletes have gone overseas to play professional sport. Amongst these are Lauren Jackson, Erin Phillips, Kristi Harrower, Belinda Snell, Penny Taylor and Liz Cambage, all of whom have played basketball in the United States.[18]

Spectatorship

During the 2010/2011 season, the Women's National Basketball League had 77,944 total spectators watch a game live. On television that season, the league had an aggregate of 1,352,096 total viewers.[19]

National team

In 1984, the national team competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics. This was their first appearance at the Olympic Games. Comparatively, their male counterparts first competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics.[20]

In 1988, the national team beat the Soviet Union's national team. This was a historic win for the team.[21] The game was played at the 1988 Summer Olympics and qualified Australia for the semi-finals.[1]

This was the roster for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[22]

Australia Women's National Basketball Team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
G 4 Erin Phillips 23 – (1985-07-19)July 19, 1985 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Indiana Fever United States
G 5 Tully Bevilaqua 36 – (1972-05-19)May 19, 1972 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) San Antonio Silver Stars United States
G 6 Jennifer Screen 26 – (1982-02-19)February 19, 1982 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) Adelaide Lightning Australia
F 7 Penny Taylor 27 – (1981-05-24)May 24, 1981 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Phoenix Mercury United States
F/C 8 Suzy Batkovic 27 – (1981-05-24)May 24, 1981 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Adelaide Lightning Australia
C 9 Hollie Grima 24 – (1983-12-16)December 16, 1983 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Frisco Sika Brno Czech Republic
PG 10 Kristi Harrower 33 – (1975-03-04)March 4, 1975 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) Bendigo Spirit Australia
F 11 Laura Summerton 24 – (1983-12-13)December 13, 1983 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Levoni Taranto Italy
F 12 Belinda Snell 27 – (1981-01-10)January 10, 1981 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Sydney Uni Flames Australia
C 13 Emma Randall 23 – (1985-05-06)May 6, 1985 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Logan Thunder Australia
C 14 Liz Cambage 16 – (1991-08-18)August 18, 1991 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Tulsa Shock United States
PF 15 Lauren Jackson (C) 27 – (1981-05-11)May 11, 1981 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Seattle Storm United States
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Australia Phil Brown, Michele Timms, Peter Buckle
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • nat field describes country
    of last club
    before the tournament
  • Age field is age on 9 August 2008

References

  1. 1 2 3 Stell, Marion K. (1991). Half the Race, A history of Australian women in sport. North Ryde, Australia: HarperCollins. p. 266. ISBN 0-207-16971-3.
  2. ↑ Stell, Marion K. (1991). Half the Race, A history of Australian women in sport. North Ryde, Australia: HarperCollins. p. 239. ISBN 0-207-16971-3.
  3. ↑ Australian Paralympic Committee (2008). "Basketball (Wheelchair)". Media Guide Beijing 2008. Sydney, New South Wales: Australian Paralympic Committee: 52.
  4. ↑ Australian Paralympic Committee (September 1999). "Basketball - Wheelchair Women". Annual Report. Sydney, Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee.
  5. ↑ Overington, Caroline (1996a). "Basketballers beat the US at their own game". Golden Days of Atlanta: Xth Paralympic Games Atlanta, Georgia, August 15–25, 1996. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Federation: 21–23. OCLC 222120061.
  6. ↑ Basketball Australia (2009). "Making Your Career in Basketball, A guide to the Australian Basketball Pathway (with up to date information on scholarships to both Australian and US Universities)" (PDF). Australia. p. 9. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "Adelaide Link: Club History". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "AIS: History". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Bendigo Spirit: Club History". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "Bulleen Boomers: Club History". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "Canberra Capitals: Carrie Graf". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  12. ↑ "Canberra Capitals: Club History". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  13. ↑ "Dandenong Rangers: Club History". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  14. ↑ "Logan Thunder: Club History". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  15. ↑ "Sydney Uni Flames: Club History". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  16. ↑ "Townsville Fire: Club History". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  17. ↑ "West Coast Waves: About Us". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  18. ↑ Basketball Australia (2009). "Making Your Career in Basketball, A guide to the Australian Basketball Pathway (with up to date information on scholarships to both Australian and US Universities)" (PDF). Australia. p. 1. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  19. ↑ "Basketball in Australia". National Basketball League. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  20. ↑ Department of Sport, Recreation and Tourism; Australian Sport Commission (1985). Australian Sport, a profile. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Publish Service. p. 171. ISBN 0-644-03667-2.
  21. ↑ Stell, Marion K. (1991). Half the Race, A history of Australian women in sport. North Ryde, Australia: HarperCollins. p. 260. ISBN 0-207-16971-3.
  22. ↑ Basketball Australia (2008). Australian Defence Force Opals (2008 National Team). Retrieved on 25 August 2008.
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