WNBL Secures Chinese Broadcast Partnership with YIDA

The Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) has announced a media partnership with Hong Kong-based YIDA ONEPATH LIMITED, securing digital broadcasting coverage across China for the 2026–27 season.

Brokered by global sports technology partner Sportradar, the agreement will beam every fixture across four major Chinese social and streaming platforms: Douyin, RedNote, Kuaishou, and WeChat Channels.

The commercial arrangement marks a strategic push into one of the world’s largest digital basketball markets, capitalising on an influx of elite Chinese talent competing within the Australian domestic competition.

Emphasising that the partnership serves as a vital pillar in the organisation’s broader international strategy, WNBL Chief Operating Officer, Justin Nelson, said: “This partnership is an important step in growing the WNBL’s international audience.”

“As a global game, basketball provides an opportunity to connect fans across borders, and broadcasting every game into China allows us to build on that opportunity and introduce the League to a broader audience.

“We want to build stronger connections with basketball fans across Asia and give more people the opportunity to follow the WNBL.

“This partnership is an important step towards that, with China providing a platform to grow our audience and explore opportunities in other markets across the region,” Nelson said.

Noting that the collaboration leverages specialised media execution through its Best Sports brand, chief operating officer of YIDA ONEPATH LIMITED, Gong Fan, added: “The new WNBL season will feature four Chinese players competing across the League,”

“Wang Siyu has joined the Southside Melbourne Flyers, Han Xu and Zhang Wanglai have signed with the Geelong Venom, while Chinese women’s national team captain Yang Shuyu has made a high-profile move to the Sydney Flames.

“The growing number of Chinese players choosing to compete in the WNBL reflects the League’s increasing profile in China, as well as the high standard and competitiveness of Australian women’s basketball.

“Through Best Sports (a sports media brand under Yida), we will bring high-quality live coverage of the WNBL to basketball fans in China via Douyin and RedNote.

“At the same time, we will work closely with our platform partners to explore more innovative and interactive opportunities around live broadcasts, creating a richer viewing experience and bringing fans closer to the League and its players.

“Through this continued partnership, we hope to further strengthen the connection between basketball communities in China and Australia.

“More importantly, we hope basketball can serve as a bridge between the two countries, creating new opportunities for sporting exchange and new points of connection between Chinese and Australian cultures.” Gong said.

The international media expansion is underpinned by an increase in Chinese national team players participating in the league, scaling from one to four athletes.

The roster features Han Xu and Zhang Wanglai with the Geelong Venom, Wang Siyu representing the Southside Melbourne Flyers, and Chinese women’s national team captain Yang Shuyu joining the Sydney Flames. 

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