Adelaide Lightning open their attack on the WNBL against Sydney Uni at home

Adelaide Lightning will have a busy opening weekend of the 2019-20 WNBL season — and it is a tough start for their campaign.

Last season’s grand finalists Lightning and Capitals will meet on the first weekend of next season. Picture: Sarah Reed

• Meet the 36ers’ new No. 1 fan
• Hodges returns as NBL switches channels

Adelaide Lightning is to face a rematch of its grand final battle against UC Capitals on the opening weekend of the 2019-20 WNBL season.

The Lightning will kick off their attack on the title with a home game against last season’s wooden spooners Sydney Uni on October 11. They then travel to Canberra to meet the reigning champions at the AIS stadium two days later.

That is the first of four successive road trips with the Lightning in Townsville, Perth and Bendigo on the next three weekends.

But there is respite for the Lightning with the next five games at home.

The 16-round draw includes three weeks of finals action with the three-game grand final series starting on March 1.

Aimee Clydesdale of the Adelaide Lightning (front) in action against Leilani Mitchell of the Canberra Capitals during game three of the WNBL grand final series in February. Picture: AAP

A change in qualification for next year’s Tokyo Olympics means the Australian Opals are scheduled to play in FIBA qualification games in November and February and the league will pause for a week.

Basketball Australia’s head of women in basketball Lauren Jackson said the season should be special given it was the WNBL’s 40th.

“It’s a milestone that we hope all sporting fans will join in to celebrate,” Jackson said. “Throughout the year, we will be acknowledging the stars from our four decades and the many current stars who also dominate on the world stage.”

LIGHTNING’S DRAW

Oct 11 v Sydney Uni (home)

Oct 13 v UC Capitals (away)

Oct 18 v Townsville (a)

Oct 26 v Perth (a)

Nov 1 v Bendigo (a)

Nov 9 v Bendigo (h)

Nov 22 v Melbourne (h)

Dec 1 v Southside (h)

Dec 6 v Perth (h)

Dec 8 v Sydney Uni (a)

Dec 15 v Bendigo (h)

Dec 22 v Melbourne (a)

Dec 27 v UC Capitals (h)

Dec 29 v Sydney Uni (a)

Jan 3 v Townsville (a)

Jan 5 v Southside (h)

Jan 10 v Melbourne (h)

Jan 17 v Townsville (h)

Jan 25 v Southside (a)

Jan 30 v Perth (h)

Feb 1 v UC Capitals (a)