2019/20 CHEMIST WAREHOUSE WNBL CHAMPIONSHIP M E D I A G U I D E wnbl.basketball WNBL PROJECT TEAM Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Jerril Rechter COMPETITION MANAGEMENT Executive General Manager Basketball Paul Maley Head of Women in Basketball Lauren Jackson Senior Operations Manager Mark Quinn Head of Officials Michael Haynes National Federation Referee Instructor John Rearden Head of Integrity Simon Bishop Legal Counsel Thomas Clarke Integrity & Security Officer Shannon Bodley Financial Controller Lorraine McGadey MEDIA & COMMERCIAL Chief Marketing Officer Natalie Momsen WNBL Marketing & Comm's Manager Sarah Ripley Head of Commercial Partnerships Glen Towers Event and Marketing Manager Lauren Gatt Head of Digital Rob Flude Digital Coordinator-Graphics, Cristina Rinaudo Media - Contractor Kane Pittman WNBL COMMISSION Jerril Rechter Basketball Australia Bronwyn Marshall Basketball Australia Paul Maley Basketball Australia Lauren Jackson Basketball Australia Bruce Spangler Adelaide Lightning Nathan O'Neill Bendigo Spirit Tony Hallam Melbourne Boomers Troy Georgiu Perth Lynx Peter Hertan Southside Flyers Rob Smithies Sydney Uni Flames Michelle Morton Townsville Fire Carrie Graf UC Capitals WNBL MEDIA CONTACT WNBL GENERAL DETAILS For all WNBL Media enquiries Office and Postal address: please email [email protected] 291 George Street, Wantirna South, VIC 3152 FOLLOW US JOIN US ON @WNBL FACEBOOK.COM/THEWNBL FOLLOW US WATCH US ON @THEWNBL YOUTUBE.COM/WNBL WNBL.BASKETBALL 2019/20 CHEMIST WAREHOUSE WNBL CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA GUIDE | INTRODUCTION 1 MESSAGE FROM JERRIL RECHTER On behalf of Basketball to a global audience, we also Australia and the Chemist want to take Australians behind Warehouse WNBL the scenes to learn more about this world class league and our Championship, I would incredible women – to uncover like to welcome everyone their passions, their drive and their to the Women’s National commitment to this sport which Basketball League for is being touted as the sleeping 2019/20. giant on the Australian sporting landscape. In a landmark development for This season will mark the historic the league and women’s sport in 40th season of the WNBL, Australia, we are set to launch a live continuing its legacy as the longest streaming service that will ultimately running elite female national reach our goal of making every competition in Australia. single game available via the WNBL Jerril Rechter The upcoming season will build on a website. CEO Basketball Australia hugely successful 2018/19, that saw On behalf of the WNBL, I would like crowds rise by 7.05 percent. to thank our commercial partners for We are thrilled to once again their continued, invaluable support; partner with Chemist Warehouse Chemist Warehouse, Fox Sports as our naming rights sponsor for Australia, Spalding, the AIS, iAthletic this season. It is the second year and SBS Australia. of partnership with the Chemist Finally, to you, our media partners Warehouse brand, as they continue of the WNBL, we want to thank to provide outstanding support for each of you for your support and our league and athletes. acknowledge the critical role you Fox Sports Australia return as a play in promoting and creating broadcast partner for the third awareness for our league as it consecutive year, as they once continues to thrive among in the again bring one game per round live Australian sporting landscape. across Australia. Heading into our 40th season of delivering elite women’s basketball 2019/20 CHEMIST WAREHOUSE WNBL CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA GUIDE | INTRODUCTION 2 MESSAGE FROM LAUREN JACKSON Welcome to #WNBL20. Jenna O’Hea, Sara Blicavs, and Leilani Mitchell will represent With this being my first Southside Flyers, Nicole Seekamp Chemist Warehouse and Lauren Nicholson will re-join WNBL campaign in the Adelaide, the Deakin Melbourne role as Head of Women in Boomers will be led by Cayla Basketball, I am filled with George and rising star Ezi Magbegor, Katie Ebzery will once excitement for what is set again suit up for Perth Lynx, while to be the league’s greatest Darcee Garbin and Abby Bishop are season yet. headed north to the JCU Townsville Fire. The 2019/20 WNBL season tips off Opals assistant coaches, Paul Goriss on Friday October 11 in Adelaide, as (UC Capitals), Cheryl Chambers the Lightning host the Sydney Uni (Southside Flyers) and Chris Lucas Flames. (Adelaide Lightning) will also return Lauren Jackson for another year on the sideline Head of Women in Basketball Other highlights in the round one leading their respective franchises. Basketball Australia schedule include the newly named Southside Flyers making their first 2019 WNBL Finals MVP, Kelsey appearance in new colours against Griffin will suit up for the defending the JCU Townsville Fire on Saturday, champion UC Capitals, while a host while reigning champion UC of marquee international imports to Capitals will host the Lightning on hit the Australian hardwood include, Sunday at AIS Arena. Kia Nurse (UC Capitals), Mercedes Russell (Southside Flyers), Ariel All in all, there will be 16 rounds of Atkins (Perth Lynx), Brianna Turner WNBL action in the 2019/20 season, (Adelaide Lightning), and Sophie consisting of 84 games that will Cunningham (Deakin Melbourne conclude on February 1. The WNBL Boomers). semi-final and finals series will take place from February 15-March 8. With the combination of world class female athletes on the floor, and The FIBA Olympic qualifying window some of the sharpest minds in the will follow the conclusion of the game on the sideline, 2019/20 is regular season, as the Chemist poised to be a season for the ages, Warehouse Opals will look to qualify and we thank each and every one for Tokyo 2020. of our media partners for joining us The WNBL will once again carry on the journey to crown the Chemist strong Opals representation, with 10 Warehouse WNBL Champions for of the 12 athletes form the bronze our historic 40th season. medal winning FIBA Women’s Asia Cup squad set to suit up. 2019/20 CHEMIST WAREHOUSE WNBL CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA GUIDE | INTRODUCTION 3 2019/20 FIXTURE CHEMIST WAREHOUSE WNBL CHAMPIONSHIP DATE TIME* VENUE HOME AWAY DATE TIME* VENUE HOME AWAY ROUND 1 ROUND 11 Fri Oct 11 7:00 pm TSA Adelaide Sydney Uni Fri Dec 27 7:00 pm TSA Adelaide UC Capitals Sat Oct 12 7:00 pm BEN Bendigo Melbourne Fri Dec 27 7:30 pm SBC Melbourne Townsville Sat Oct 12 7:00 pm DAN Southside Townsville Sat Dec 28 7:00 pm BEN Bendigo Townsville Sun Oct 13 1:00 pm BBC Perth Sydney Uni Sun Dec 29 1:00 pm BBC Perth UC Capitals Sun Oct 13 1:30 pm AIS UC Capitals Adelaide Sun Dec 29 5:00 pm BRY Sydney Uni Adelaide ROUND 2 ROUND 12 Thu Oct 17 7:30 pm DAN Southside Perth Fri Jan 3 6:30 pm BBC Perth Southside Fri Oct 18 7:00 pm TSV Townsville Adelaide Fri Jan 3 7:00 pm TSV Townsville Adelaide Sat Oct 19 5:00 pm BRY Sydney Uni Southside Fri Jan 3 7:00 pm BEN Bendigo UC Capitals Sat Oct 19 7:30 pm SBC Melbourne Bendigo Sun Jan 5 1:00 pm TSA Adelaide Southside Sun Oct 20 2:00 pm NCC UC Capitals Townsville Sun Jan 5 2:00 pm AIS UC Capitals Perth Sun Oct 20 5:00 pm BEN Bendigo Perth Sun Jan 5 5:00 pm BRY Sydney Uni Melbourne ROUND 3 ROUND 13 Fri Oct 25 7:30 pm GEE Melbourne UC Capitals Fri Jan 10 7:00 pm TSA Adelaide Melbourne Sat Oct 26 5:00 pm TAR Southside Bendigo Fri Jan 10 7:00 pm TSV Townsville UC Capitals Sat Oct 26 6:30 pm BBC Perth Adelaide Sun Jan 12 1:00 pm BBC Perth Bendigo Sun Oct 27 2:00 pm BRY Sydney Uni UC Capitals Sun Jan 12 2:00 pm BRY Sydney Uni Townsville Sun Oct 27 4:00 pm TSV Townsville Melbourne Sun Jan 12 5:00 pm SBC Melbourne Southside ROUND 4 ROUND 14 Fri Nov 1 7:00 pm BEN Bendigo Adelaide Fri Jan 17 7:00 pm NCC UC Capitals Melbourne Sat Nov 2 5:00 pm AIS UC Capitals Sydney Uni Fri Jan 17 7:00 pm TSA Adelaide Townsville Sat Nov 2 6:30 pm BBC Perth Townsville Sat Jan 18 5:00 pm BRY Sydney Uni Melbourne Sun Nov 3 5:00 pm DAN Southside Bendigo Sat Jan 18 7:00 pm BEN Bendigo Southside Mon Nov 4 7:30 pm SBC Melbourne Southside Sun Jan 19 2:00 pm BBC Perth Townsville ROUND 5 Sun Jan 19 5:00 pm DAN Southside UC Capitals Thu Nov 7 7:00 pm BRY Sydney Uni Townsville ROUND 15 Thu Nov 7 7:30 pm DAN Southside UC Capitals Fri Jan 24 7:00 pm BEN Bendigo Perth Sat Nov 9 6:30 pm BBC Perth Sydney Uni Sat Jan 25 6:00 pm TSV Townsville Melbourne Sat Nov 9 7:00 pm TSA Adelaide Bendigo Sat Jan 25 7:00 pm DAN Southside Adelaide Sat Nov 9 7:30 pm SBC Melbourne UC Capitals Sun Jan 26 5:00 pm NCC UC Capitals Sydney Uni FIBA QUALIFIERS WINDOW ROUND 16 ROUND 6 Thu Jan 30 7:00 pm BRY Sydney Uni Bendigo Fri Nov 22 7:00 pm TSA Adelaide Melbourne Thu Jan 30 7:00 pm TSA Adelaide Perth Fri Nov 22 7:00 pm BRY Sydney Uni Perth Sat Feb 1 5:00 pm NCC UC Capitals Adelaide Sat Nov 23 6:00 pm TSV Townsville Southside Sat Feb 1 6:00 pm TSV Townsville Bendigo Sun Nov 24 2:00 pm BEN Bendigo Melbourne Sat Feb 1 7:00 pm SBC Melbourne Perth Sun Nov 24 5:00 pm NCC UC Capitals Perth Sat Feb 1 7:00 pm DAN Southside Sydney Uni ROUND 7 FIBA QUALIFIERS WINDOW Fri Nov 29 6:30 pm BBC Perth Southside SEMI FINAL SERIES 1 SEMI FINAL SERIES 2 Fri Nov 29 7:00 pm BEN Bendigo Sydney Uni Game 1 Sat Feb 15 1st Vs 4th Game 1 Sun Feb 16 2nd Vs 3rd Sat Nov 30 5:00 pm NCC UC Capitals Townsville Game 2 Sat Feb 22 4th Vs 1st Game 2 Sun Feb 23 3rd Vs 2nd Sat Nov 30 7:30 pm SBC Melbourne Sydney Uni Game 3 Wed Feb 26 1st Vs 4th Game 3 Thu Feb 27 2nd Vs 3rd Sun Dec 1 5:00 pm TSA Adelaide Southside ROUND 8 GRAND FINAL Fri Dec 6 7:00 pm TSA Adelaide Perth Game 1 Sun Mar 1 Highest placed SF Winner Vs Lowest placed SF Winner Fri Dec 6 7:00 pm BEN Bendigo