Bold move set to catapult WNBL to the top

The WNBL has revealed a bold strategy to help expand the reach of the League on basketball’s global stage.

A plan to declassify players from countries in FIBA’s Asian region would allow them to join the WNBL as locals as soon as next season.

That move would present an exciting opportunity for the League to reach new heights in the Asian market, a position that other top sporting codes would struggle to find themselves in.

“It’s time for the WNBL to shake things up; it’s our time to shine, to be number one, and Asia will help us do that,” WNBL COO Justin Nelson said CODE Sports.

“No disrespect to Super Netball, the AFLW or NRLW, but a potential audience of 4.9 billion people watching Asian players playing in the best women’s league in the region will catapult the WNBL to the very top.”

Nelson also touched on the reach that basketball has which doesn’t exist elsewhere, and the ‘incredibly exciting’ opportunity for the League to make that move.

“Basketball is a global sport, and we need to start thinking more globally,” Nelson added.

“Many other sports can’t do that, but we can. Let’s respect the last 45 years, but let’s build an incredible competition for the next 45 years.”

Four Chinese stars are currently rostered as imports for WNBL27, with Wang ‘Rainy’ Siyu (Southside Melbourne Flyers), Yang Shuyu (Sydney Flames), Han Xu and Zhang Wanglai (Geelong Venom) set to hit the court this season.

These stars bring a massive fanbase with them, amassing millions of followers across their social media platforms.

Sydney’s Yang Shuyu alone has more than 5 million followers on Chinese platform Douyin and has served as an ambassador for huge brands like Prada and Jordan.

The WNBL27 Season tips off on Thursday night when Tasmania hosts Geelong, featuring Zhang.

Across the Opening Round, three of the four Chinese stars will hit the court, with Wang Siyu’s Flyers and Yang Shuyu’s Flames locking horns on Friday night.

All games will be broadcast live on ESPN via Disney+ and 9Now.

Read the full story here >> WNBL27 season preview: Team by team outlook as league reveals plan to push into Asian market

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