Australia’s NBLW boosted from new sponsorship
Chemist Warehouse boost womens basketball in Australia, signing a new three-year deal as the major sponsor of both the Opals and the WNBL.
Australia’s national women’s basketball competition and the women’s national team have been without a naming rights sponsor for nearly two years.
The agreement also sees the pharmacy giant support Basketball Australia’s six other national women’s teams: the under‐25 national team (Emerging Opals); under‐19 national team (Gems); under‐17 national team (Sapphires); wheelchair team (Gliders); under‐25 wheelchair team (Devils); and the intellectually impaired team (Pearls).
“The popularity of basketball in Australia has never been higher and the quality of our athletes has never been better so this is a perfect time for Chemist Warehouse to partner with Basketball Australia,” said BA CEO Anthony Moore.
Head of WNBL Sally Phillips echoed Moore’s excitement.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with a brand that genuinely cares about the future of our league, our clubs and our athletes,” she said.
“Chemist Warehouse’s support will ensure that the WNBL can continue to gain momentum and strive forward into an exciting future.”
Opals and Melbourne Boomers star Jenna O’Hea, who previously enjoyed two stints in the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm, described the new sponsorship as “incredible”.
“I’m thrilled they’ve come on board and, such a big company Australia-wide as well, it just shows that the support behind women’s basketball is great and women’s sport in general,” the two-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA champion said.
O’Hea, who added a Commonwealth Games gold medal to her trophy cabinet in April, saw it as another step in the right direction for women’s sport.
“The support from fans has always been there, so for them to recognise that and put even more support behind that is really great and strengthens our league even more,” she said.
“Things like this help us and put our name on the map.
“So hopefully we can continue to attract great talent and it’s good for our league and it’s really exciting.”
O’Hea’s Boomers teammate Monique Conti, also a Western Bulldogs AFLW premiership star and still just a teenager, felt peace of mind that the future of women’s basketball and its pathway programs were now more secure.
“In terms of Australian grassroots, obviously it includes getting involved in basketball and the junior teams and all the way through to the Opals,” the 2017 WNBL Rookie of the Year said.
While Conti insisted she liked playing basketball and footy equally, after winning the AFLW premiership this year, she now has her sights on completing an historic AFLW-WNBL double in 2019.
“For sure, that would be very good wouldn’t it?” said Conti, who was declared best on ground in the 2018 AFLW grand final. “Hopefully I can reach that and achieve that eventually.”
signing a new three-year deal as the major sponsor of both the Opals and the WNBL.
It’s been two years and 18 months respectively since Australia’s national women’s basketball competition and the women’s national team have had a naming rights sponsor.
The agreement also sees the pharmacy giant support Basketball Australia’s six other national women’s teams: the under‐25 national team (Emerging Opals); under‐19 national team (Gems); under‐17 national team (Sapphires); wheelchair team (Gliders); under‐25 wheelchair team (Devils); and the intellectually impaired team (Pearls).
“The popularity of basketball in Australia has never been higher and the quality of our athletes has never been better so this is a perfect time for Chemist Warehouse to partner with Basketball Australia,” said BA CEO Anthony Moore.
Head of WNBL Sally Phillips echoed Moore’s excitement.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with a brand that genuinely cares about the future of our league, our clubs and our athletes,” she said.
“Chemist Warehouse’s support will ensure that the WNBL can continue to gain momentum and strive forward into an exciting future.”
Opals and Melbourne Boomers star Jenna O’Hea, who previously enjoyed two stints in the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm, described the new sponsorship as “incredible”.
“I’m thrilled they’ve come on board and, such a big company Australia-wide as well, it just shows that the support behind women’s basketball is great and women’s sport in general,” the two-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA champion said.
O’Hea, who added a Commonwealth Games gold medal to her trophy cabinet in April, saw it as another step in the right direction for women’s sport.
“The support from fans has always been there, so for them to recognise that and put even more support behind that is really great and strengthens our league even more,” she said.
“Things like this help us and put our name on the map.
“So hopefully we can continue to attract great talent and it’s good for our league and it’s really exciting.”
O’Hea’s Boomers teammate Monique Conti, also a Western Bulldogs AFLW premiership star and still just a teenager, felt peace of mind that the future of women’s basketball and its pathway programs were now more secure.
“In terms of Australian grassroots, obviously it includes getting involved in basketball and the junior teams and all the way through to the Opals,” the 2017 WNBL Rookie of the Year said.
While Conti insisted she liked playing basketball and footy equally, after winning the AFLW premiership this year, she now has her sights on completing an historic AFLW-WNBL double in 2019.
“For sure, that would be very good wouldn’t it?” said Conti, who was declared best on ground in the 2018 AFLW grand final. “Hopefully I can reach that and achieve that eventually.”
