The potential impact of Geelong United’s WNBL franchise

Geelong United has officially been unveiled as the WNBL’s newest franchise. Here’s the potential impact locally and those who made the bid possible.

Geelong United is joining the WNBL. Jasmine King, Jolissa Carriedo, Megan Moody, Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan, Connie Bolger, Kensi King, Vicki King, Poppy Stevens.

Geelong United is officially a WNBL team.

After the Melbourne Boomers confirmed the official transfer of the licence to Geelong on Thursday night, the national competition’s newest club was officially welcomed on Friday.

The move will see United half a complete pathway from junior representative basketball in the Victoria Junior Basketball League to the national stage.

Currently, the club has men’s and women’s teams entered in the NBL1 South competition.

“This is a great day for the WNBL, we have been working with Geelong United Basketball for some time and we are delighted to be able to announce their inclusion in the league,” head of the WNBL Christy Collier-Hill said.

“Season 2024-25 is going to be so exciting for the fans and we know that Geelong will really get behind their team. There has never been a better time for women’s sport with more fans than ever before.”

Geelong United Basketball chief executive Mark Neeld said he was excited by the potential growth in the women’s game on the back of the announcement.

“The profile of women’s sport is on a dramatic rise, and locally we’ve seen so many of these women doing great things, particularly in basketball with the NBL1,” Neeld said.

“We of course see the growth in basketball first-hand and want to reward our hardworking female athletes with another amazing opportunity to play sport at the highest level right here in their own backyard.”

Three-time Olympian and WNBL Hall of Fame member Trish Fallon expressed her excitement.

“I grew up in Geelong and went through the local pathways that took me all the way to the Olympics,” she said.

“Geelong has such a strong, vibrant basketball community and having a WNBL team will give girls of all ages the opportunity to aspire to playing at the elite level.

“ I’m looking forward to heading down to watch some games and I encourage all of the Geelong basketball fans to come out and support the team.”

In its own confirmation of the licence transfer to Geelong, Melbourne Boomers chairman Tony Hallam delivered a parting shot at Basketball Australia.

“As we pursue equality in elite women’s sport, there is, quite rightly, an increasing expectation by our wonderful athletes and coaches in terms of remuneration and working conditions (enjoyed by their male equivalents) – however these significant rising costs cannot continue to be absorbed just by the private owners, without the support of the current league owner, Basketball Australia,” Hallam said in a statement.

The club plans to play its home games out of Geelong Arena from this season.

In its own statement announcing the licence, Geelong United acknowledged those who made the move possible.

They included the Deam family, Anna Teague and Seb Loader, Jackie and Ben Riddle, and the Belgravia Group (Lord family).

Originally published as The potential impact of Geelong United’s WNBL franchise