An NBL bid led by Larry Kestelman and Sydney Kings’ majority owner Robyn Denholm set to invest in WNBL

A major step towards not only reviving the ailing women’s competition in Australia, but unifying the sport of basketball, is imminent with a bid led by NBL owner Larry Kestelman set to come to the rescue.

Larry Kestelman is set to invest in the WNBL. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

The NBL is set to take on a percentage of the WNBL in an attempt to revitalise the exposure-starved foundation women’s basketball league.

Code Sports can reveal the NBL’s bid, headed by owner Larry Kestelman and Sydney Kings and Flames majority owner Robyn Denholm, is poised to sign a heads of agreement in the coming days to rubber stamp the deal.

The NBL will be a separate entity to Basketball Australia, while the governing body will retain a percentage of the WNBL.

NBL’s official ownership involvement in the WNBL won’t happen immediately, and it’s uncertain of their role for the upcoming season starting with the pre-season HoopsFest in Perth from September 19.

Regardless of this due diligence process, it’s understood the NBL will have some influence on the WNBL’s marketing and promotions during the upcoming season.

The sale of the WNBL to the NBL is a major step towards not only reviving the ailing women’s competition, but unifying the sport of basketball.

Lauren Jackson celebrates the Southside Flyers winning the WNBL Championship earlier this year. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Former Adelaide Lightning guard and Paris-bound 3x3 star Marena Whittle recently told Code Sports she would welcome the NBL’s involvement in the WNBL.

“I think anything that can grow the league,” Whittle said.

“There is so much momentum happening for women’s sport at the moment and I can only feel that the WNBL has been behind for the last few years.

“We know that there is a great quality of players and the content itself is amazing but it’s not getting the coverage or even the interest that we think we deserve.

“If it does look like an NBL takeover, I think that can only do well for the league because the product is great and we just need to get more movement for the sport.

“We’re losing more girls to overseas clubs and we need to get these girls back home and playing on home soil.”

Whittle 3x3 teammate and proud partner Anneli Maley also backed the NBL’s bid to join forces with the WNBL.

“I think it’s important to show a united front in all sports, basketball included,“ Maley said.

“Whether it is the NBL, it would be amazing to present a unified approach.

“We need to find a way to work together and all be under the one roof.”

Originally published as An NBL bid led by Larry Kestelman and Sydney Kings’ majority owner Robyn Denholm set to invest in WNBL