“We need change”: Froling confident help is on horizon for WNBL

Launceston Tornadoes skipper Keely Froling is confident “change” is on the horizon for the flailing WNBL as the NBL mulls partnering with the league. Read her thoughts after last week’s demise of her club Melbourne Boomers.

Keely Froling is confident much-needed change is on the horizon for the WNBL. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Launceston Tornadoes skipper Keely Froling is confident “change” is on the horizon for the flailing WNBL, and has backed NBL owner Larry Kestelman to work his magic on the league should officials decide it’s the best path.

Froling fronted media on Wednesday just days after the WNBL club she joined and co-captained last year, Melbourne Boombers, transferred their licence to new franchise Geelong United.

News Corp reported on Tuesday the NBL is in talks with Basketball Australia (BA) about the acquisition of the country’s premier female league.

Whether the NBL wants full or part ownership is unclear. Opals star Froling is an Australian Basketball Players’ Association delegate and has been part of recent meetings with BA boss Matt Scriven.

Kestelman bought a controlling stake in the NBL in 2015, and has overseen the league boom in success and popularity in recent seasons.

Asked if she thought Kestelman could boost the WNBL, Froling said: “I think so. You look at what he’s done with the NBL, he’s obviously proven himself. If he’s the right man for the job then we’d love to have him on board.

“BA are going through a process to determine (the future). We’ll wait and see, but I think Kestelman’s really the standard if you look at Australian basketball.”

Froling hinted at her frustration the league hasn’t mirrored other women’s sports leagues in a boost in profile.

Keely Froling in action for the Boomers. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

“There’s a lot going on with the whole league at the moment, and what we need is change,” she said.

“I think we’re moving in the right direction with that. How that happens, when that happens and who that happens with, there’s a million questions to answer.

“The league is growing and you look at women’s sport around the world right now, we need to invest in and promote the league. It is one of the best in the world, and I think we’re falling down a little bit in some aspects of that.

“Absolutely, anything we can do to make it better (we should look at). If that’s getting the NBL involved if that’s getting whoever involved, it’s a great idea.

“You look at other women’s sporting codes, but also the WNBA this year and how much it’s gone up. We’re right there with these top leagues in the world, it’s like ‘why can’t we be that.’”

Froling said the meetings with BA were beneficial to express what changes the playing group would like.

“They (meetings) were to get our head around what’s going on, and to give the player’s perspective,” she said.

“We hear a lot about minimum wage, we want pay parity and that sort of thing, but other things as well, minimum standards like having a physio on the road,” she said.

“You don’t have full time assistant coaches (in the WNBL), things that aren’t thought about, but things you need to make it a super professional league, and things the NBL already has. “Those things we’ve really driven home.”

Froling said she’s unsure where her WNBL future lies, with the delayed free agency period yet to begin.

“Free agency starts in 30 days or so, I believe. I’m talking to Geelong at the moment and deciding what will happen, if I’ll play there or go to free agency,” she said.

“It will be a matter of assessing coach-wise, what the club’s like, those sorts of things that come into those decisions.”

Meanwhile, Froling will be unavailable for Launceston’s road games against Ringwood and Kilsyth this weekend as she chases her Olympic dream.

Froling revealed she will be part of a 12-player squad to travel to Japan to play practice matches against their national team.

Another 12 players who were part of the extended Games squad will embark on a tour of China starting late this month.

“I’m excited to play for the country and put my best foot forward for Olympic selection,” Froling said.

“I think I had a pretty good WNBL season and Asia Cup leading into this. It’s about doing everything I can to make the team, and it’s up to the selectors.”