'WNBL continuing to elevate standards': Madgen

She's one of the biggest names in Australian basketball, and now Tess Madgen has thrown her full support behind the exciting TechnologyOne Townsville Tip Off.

The former Opals captain, who is now the Adelaide Lightning General Manager, believes the growth of the pre-season tournament highlights the direction of the sport, not just in the country but all around the world.

"I've said it a million times since I retired two years ago, but I wish I was just starting my career instead of ending it," Madgen said during Thursday's TechnologyOne Townsville Tip Off press conference.

"It is still really cool to be a part of that as a general manager of a team and having an impact in a different way.

"Being in a front office, you can really push, be involved in the decision-making, and be involved in that change.

"Obviously the players deserve what they're worth, with everything that's happening over in the WNBA.

"So to be able to be doing that at a WNBL level, while continually increasing those standards across the League is awesome.

"It's obviously resonating with the players too, with a number of the Opals flying back straight from the World Cup to be here in Townsville for this wonderful tournament."

Read more >> TechnologyOne Townsville Tip Off: Schedule, tickets & how to watch

Olympic bronze medallist Madgen also praised the teams in the League for doing their bit to elevate the sport.

"Townsville have really been the benchmark for a very long time of what a WNBL team could and should be," she said.

"Now we've got the Tasmania Jewels who are also elevating [the game].

"We're all trying to catch up, so it's really awesome for the sport.

"Expansion can sometimes be scary, but we've seen how fantastically it's been implemented with the Tasmania Jewels.

"It really encourages all the other clubs to kind of chase what the expectation and standard should be."

Madgen's Lightning, who will be without the likes of Zitina Aukoso, Steph Talbot, Shay Ciezki and Maddy Westbeld, play both Tasmania (Friday) and Bendigo (Saturday) while in Townsville.

Thursday's Tip Off opener, between Townsville and Perth, starts at 7pm AEST, live on 9Now and Disney+.