The 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup has strengthened its ambassador program with the support of music artist, Tones & I, Erin Phillips and other personalities to support the growth of Australian women’s basketball.

The ambassador program, named the ‘Playmakers Program’, has welcomed 18 members, who will use their platforms and passion to increase the recognition of women’s basketball and build momentum for the World Cup.

Along with several basketball personalities, Sunrise host, Mark Beretta, Tones & I, Australian cricketer, Alyssa Healy and AFLW athlete, Chloe Dalton joined as ambassadors, to support the major event on Australian soil.

Commenting on the program, Women’s World Cup global event ambassador and former Opal, Lauren Jackson, said: “By definition, a ’playmaker’ is a player in a team game who leads or brings other players on the same side into a position from which they could score, and this program is rallying people passionate about and capable of helping women’s basketball get their scores on the board.”

“The public support of these Playmakers presents an exciting opportunity to make some noise about the upcoming FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney and to showcase the incredible strength, agility, power, skills and promise of women’s basketball,” she said.

The tournament will 22 September to 1 October, and will feature the world’s best players from 12 of basketball’s biggest nations.

The announcement comes after Basketball Australia held a panel to celebrate International Women’s Day, which discussed the theme, ‘breaking the bias.’