Liz Cambage absent but Opals to shine in 2018/2019 WNBL

IT boasts the best players in the country, including the majority of Opals who recently won world championship silver at the FIBA World Cup. SWOOP guide to the 2018/19 WNBL season.

The last WNBL semi final between Townsville Fire and the Sydney Uni Flames.

IT boasts the best players in the country, including the majority of Opals who recently won world championship silver at the FIBA World Cup in Spain.

And while Opal giant Liz Cambage has decided not to return for the season, the 2018/2019 WNBL is set to be a cracker and one to remember for fans of the game.

WORLD CUP: Silver medal for Opals

LIZ CAMBAGE: She’s our MVP say Opals

New names will make a mark as the likes of veteran Suzy Batkovic prepare to bow out and old Opals teammate Belinda Snell's leads the Sydney Uni Flames in their bid to return to the winners circle.

SWOOP guide to the 2018/19 WNBL season.

The last WNBL semi final between Townsville Fire and the Sydney Uni Flames.

THE COMPETITION

Eight teams will play a 15 round regular season before the finals.

A total of 84 games will be played before the business end of the season.

The Flames will take on the Capitals at home in the opening game of the competition on October 12.

The regular season will conclude on the weekend of January 18.

The semi-final series will begin on January 26 with the best-of-three season decider slated for February 10, 14 and 17, if necessary.

The season is two weeks longer than the compressed competition in 2017/18.

It also starts later than usual to accommodate the 2018 World Cup in Spain.

BIG SCREEN: WNBL back on free-to-air

HISTORY

The competition is now in its 38th year and is the longest running elite women’s sporting competition in the country.

Townsville celebrating their win last year.

TELEVISION

The league is back on free-to-air at SBS and will also be broadcast on FOX Sports.

The new deal will see Fox Sports broadcast and stream one game each week, plus every finals game live, ad-break free and in HD.

SBS will simulcast nine regular season games live on Saturday afternoons at 3pm with the 2018/19 season kicking off October 12.

DOUBLE HEADERS: For Kings and Flames

THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

Townsville Fire are back on top again after a three-game thriller with the Melbourne Boomers.

It was the third grand final success for the Queensland team in four seasons.

Fire won the third and deciding match 70-57 with Suzy Batkovic earning her first WNBL finals MVP.

The Boomers won the second match of the series 58-57 to force the WNBL showdown.

Townsville had won the series opener 69-64.

Townsville beat the Boomers for the last crown.

THE TEAMS

Sydney Uni Flames

Townsville Fire

Perth Lynx

Melbourne Boomers

Adelaide Lightning

Bendigo Spirit

UC Capitals

Dandenong Rangers

THE FINALS: HOW IT WORKS

There will be a three-game series for the semi-finals, eliminating the need for Preliminary Finals.

The victors of those two semi-finals series will meet in the Grand Final series.

MAJOR AWARDS

MVP: The Most Valuable Player Award is arguably the most prestige

in the game across the entire season.

GRAND FINAL MVP: The best player in the Grand Final series.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: The Rookie of the Year Award is for the most

outstanding player competing in their maiden WNBL

ROUND ONE

Oct 12: 7pm Sydney Uni V UC Capitals

Oct 13: 12pm Perth v Adelaide

Oct 13: 7:30pm Melbourne v Bendigo

Oct 14: 3pm Townsville v Dandenong

Liz Cambage has opted against playing in the competition this year.

PAST RESULTS

WNBL CHAMPIONS HONOUR ROLL

2017/18 TOWNSVILLE FIRE

2016/17 SYDNEY UNI FLAMES

2015/16 TOWNSVILLE FIRE

2014/15 TOWNSVILLE FIRE

2013/14 BENDIGO SPIRIT

2012/13 BENDIGO SPIRIT

2011/12 DANDENONG RANGERS

2010/11 BULLEEN BOOMERS

2009/10 CANBERRA CAPITALS

2008/09 CANBERRA CAPITALS

2007/08 ADELAIDE LIGHTNING

2006/07 CANBERRA CAPITALS

2005/06 CANBERRA CAPITALS

2004/05 DANDENONG RANGERS

2003/04 DANDENONG RANGERS

2002/03 CANBERRA CAPITALS

2001/02 CANBERRA CAPITALS

2000/01 SYDNEY PANTHERS

1999/00 CANBERRA CAPITALS

1998/99 AIS

1998 ADELAIDE LIGHTNING

1997 SYDNEY FLAMES

1996 ADELAIDE LIGHTNING

1995 ADELAIDE LIGHTNING

1994 ADELAIDE LIGHTNING

1993 SYDNEY FLAMES

1992 PERTH BREAKERS

1991 HOBART ISLANDERS

1990 NORTH ADELAIDE ROCKETS

1989 NUNAWADING SPECTRES

1988 NUNAWADING SPECTRES

1987 NUNAWADING SPECTRES

1986 NUNAWADING SPECTRES

1985 COBURG GIANTS

1984 NUNAWADING SPECTRES

1983 NUNAWADING SPECTRES

1982 ST KILDA SAINTS

1981 ST KILDA SAINTS