Geelong crowned 2026 TechnologyOne Townsville Tip Off champions

The Geelong Venom have been crowned the 2026 TechnologyOne Townsville Tip Off champions, after two strong wins at the Murray Sporting Complex.

The Venom, coached by Cheryl Chambers, opened their account at the pre-season tournament by fighting back to defeat the UC Capitals 90-86 on Saturday.

They backed this up with a dominant 90-67 victory over the Bendigo Spirit on Sunday, to help the Venom win their first-ever piece of WNBL silverware.

Leading the way for the Venom was Tiana Mangakahia MVP Award winner Maddy Rocci, who averaged 24 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 3.5 steals.

Geelong, who open their WNBL27 season against Tasmania on October 15, finished the tournament on 11 points, just 0.5 ahead of reigning Tip Off winners Townsville.

The full 2026 standings are below.

Beyond the court, the Tip Off brought the WNBL and its clubs into the wider Townsville community, with a range of activities held throughout the four-day tournament.

The Strand Community Shootaround gave local fans the opportunity to get involved with the WNBL, while players and clubs also took part in community appearances and activities across Townsville throughout the week.

The tournament also provided an opportunity for young basketball fans to see WNBL players up close and engage with the sport beyond game day, reinforcing the League’s commitment to connecting with communities across Australia.

With all nine clubs coming together in Townsville for the second annual TechnologyOne Townsville Tip Off, the tournament provided an important opportunity for teams to prepare for WNBL27 while giving fans an early look at the talent set to take the court this season.