WNBL’s new leadership committed to the 'long-haul' as season tips off

 

The 2025–26 campaign is underway and WNBL’s new leadership committed to the 'long-haul' as season tips off has become the defining mantra of Australia’s women’s basketball revival. After months of build-up and structural change, fans, players and administrators are watching closely to see whether this new era can truly deliver sustainable growth, not just short-term excitement. 

 

From the moment the league’s new ownership group took charge earlier this year, WNBL’s new leadership committed to the 'long-haul' as season tips off has echoed through boardrooms, media releases and player interviews. The consortium led by the NBL and Wollemi Capital Group, including Tesla chair Robyn Denholm and Larry Kestelman, is pledging not to treat this as a quick turnaround project but as a multi-year endeavour.
That resolve is critical given the challenges the league faces: past underinvestment, exposure limitations, unstable club finances and fragmented broadcasting reach.

On the player front, WNBL’s new leadership committed to the 'long-haul' as season tips off has already translated into a landmark collective bargaining agreement. The new deal seeks to double minimum pay over four years, secure more robust protections, and gradually align base conditions with those of the NBL.
Those changes are more than symbolic — they aim to keep elite talent at home longer, reduce the “brain drain” to overseas leagues, and give athletes confidence that they are part of a league building toward consistency.

In parallel, WNBL’s new leadership committed to the 'long-haul' as season tips off is evident in the broadcast strategy. A new deal ensures that all 92 regular-season games and finals will be available live via free-to-air and streaming platforms like 9Now, ESPN and Disney+, restoring accessibility to fans across Australia.
Media partners such as Rainmaker will produce comprehensive coverage, featuring established voices and new storytellers, in an effort to elevate the league’s visibility and narrative consistency.

Naturally, WNBL’s new leadership committed to the 'long-haul' as season tips off must also manage the tension between ambition and realism. Jennie Sager, the newly appointed CEO, has emphasised repeatedly that meaningful transformation won’t happen overnight. “We have a five-year strategy … it’s just not all going to happen in year one,” she said.
Her words reflect a humility that’s rare in sports administration: scaling expectations, listening to clubs and athletes, learning from early feedback — all while holding firm to the long view.

On the court, WNBL’s new leadership committed to the 'long-haul' as season tips off offers renewed optimism. Teams like Bendigo Spirit aim to defend their title amid transition, while new roster moves and coaching appointments hint at fresh direction.
Meanwhile, rising stars such as Nyadiew Puoch, and established names like Anneli Maley, are backing the vision — eager to see crowds swell, broadcast numbers grow, and community engagement deepen.

If all goes well, WNBL’s new leadership committed to the 'long-haul' as season tips off will soon feel less like a slogan and more like lived reality. Year one won’t define success, but it can show credible movement. If teams grow stronger, audiences respond, and the foundations endure, this new chapter could reset expectations. For fans, now is the moment to rally behind a league that wants to prove it’s in it for the long run — not just this season, but many to come.