Revealed: Discussions underway to bring Seattle Storm to Australia as part of WNBL pre-season games
The WNBL is looking to follow the NBL to establish a relationship with its American counterpart as MATT LOGUE reveals Seattle Storm could potentially head to Australia for pre-season games.
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American powerhouse the Seattle Storm could come to Australia as part of a bigger vision for WNBL clubs to play pre-season games against WNBA franchises.
American powerhouse the Seattle Storm could come to Australia as part of a bigger vision for WNBL clubs to play pre-season games against WNBA franchises.
Basketball Australia CEO Matt Scriven revealed a plan to bring the Storm – a club that has a rich Australian history headed by Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson – to Australia for a game against a WNBL team.
Jackson spent 12 years in Seattle, winning two WNBA championships, three MVP trophies, a Finals MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year in 2007.
The Opals great is among a long list of Aussies to play for the Storm, including Suzy Batkovic, Tully Bevilaqua, Abby Bishop, Steph Talbot, Jenna O’Hea, Ezi Magbegor, Sami Whitcomb and Jade Melbourne until she was recently traded to the Washington Mystics.
Jackson also recently announced an inaugural fellowship that will fund a young female Australian basketballer to experience the inner workings of the Seattle WNBA franchise.
Scriven is keen to capitalise on Australia’s deep connection with the Storm.
“We’ve had early discussions with Seattle about coming out and playing in Australia,” Scriven said.
“There is a really strong connection with Seattle and we think they are a great team to be able to come out here and play and play against a WNBL All-Star team.
We’d love to be able to get someone like Seattle to come out here.
There is also a connection with the New York Liberty with (Opals national coach) Sandy Brondello coaching there.
We’ve got some great opportunities in front of us, but if we can get a game out in Australia that would be fantastic.”
Scriven said Basketball Australia has been working closely with the WNBA for the past 12 to 18 months to create a strategic partnership between the two leagues.
He believes the leagues perfectly complement each other and he can see a future where WNBL teams play pre-season games against WNBA side, much like the men’s pre-season games between the NBL and the NBA.
“The NBL has done a fantastic job working with the NBA and establishing a great partnership with them,” he said.
“I think we’re embarking on a similar journey with the WNBL.”
Blitz move as NBL eyes record NBA scouts:
This year’s NBL pre-season Blitz on the Gold Coast will have a new venue as officials eye a record number of NBA scouts to hit our shores.
Crosscourt can reveal moves are underway for the annual event to be relocated from the 6,000 capacity Convention and Exhibition Centre to the nearby Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.
It’s understood a lack of availability prompted the NBL to move the Blitz to the Leisure Centre – a multi-sport venue which has successfully hosted the big events like the Australian Basketball School Championships (ASC).
The venue has multiple courts, which would enable games to be played concurrently.
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NBL CEO Dave Stevenson confirmed the league was working towards a solution for this year’s pre-season Blitz, which will be played in early September.
“We’re working through those details now,” Stevenson said.
“There is always a challenge with availability of the convention centre, but I think the success we had with last season’s Blitz was phenomenal. Everything from the attendances and the high on-court play.”
Last year’s inaugural Blitz on the Gold Coast was the biggest and most successful pre-season tournament in league history.
More than 20,000 fans poured into the Gold Coast Convention Centre over the event’s seven days, doubling the previous crowd record.
Basketball experts from around the world also attended, with more than 40 NBA scouts from 27 teams at every game.
Stevenson is hoping to significantly increase the 45 NBA scouts that attended last year’s Blitz, especially if former Perth Wildcat Alex Sarr can further put the NBL on the global hoops map and go No.1 in next month’s draft.
He said early indications suggest scouts will come for the Blitz on the Gold Coast and stay for the first HoopsFest in Perth from September 19-22.
Stevenson believes the lure of the NBL’s opening round combined with the Under 18 Australian Club Championships makes HoopsFest a hugely appealing event for NBA scouts.
“It is very deliberate for us to make sure that the Blitz comes into the HoopsFest, so ideally those scouts stay and come to both events,” he said.
“We were amazed by the amount of NBA scouts that came to last year’s Blitz. Each one that I spoke to absolutely loved the experience and that they could see all of the players in a pretty condensed way.
“Then when they come to HoopsFest and see them playing for regular season games, hopefully (it attracts more scouts).
“It was really insightful to discover that so many NBA scouts are tracking under 18s kids because it’s not too far away from those 16s or 17 year old kids who are then into the NBL and into the NBA.
“I think the scouts will look at this as a great opportunity to see not just NBA players, but also those under 18s players.”
Darwin’s big expansion boost:
The NBL has endorsed the Northern Territory government’s proposed $19.2 million upgrade of its waterfront venue in Darwin, declaring the big spend is a crucial step towards an expansion license.
Last week, the NT government announced funding to upgrade the Darwin Convention Centre to more than 5,500 spectators.
NBL CEO David Stevenson says a bigger stadium will only enhance Darwin’s expansion bid.
“It can only help their case,” Stevenson said.
“We’ve been talking to them for a long time, so we were aware of their desires to elevate that venue, so we are thrilled to be able to see that come together.
“They (the NT government) been really productive conversations and they’re excited about what that possibility could be.
“As we’ve said a few times, we don’t want to expand for expansion’s sake, so getting a playing venue is a really important one of those three pillars with fans, corporate support and venues.
“It’s a fantastic venue in Darwin that waterfront convention centre. A great location, so we were very pleased to see that stadium upgrade announcement.”
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Originally published as Revealed: Discussions underway to bring Seattle Storm to Australia as part of WNBL pre-season games
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