WNBL, South Australian Government secure Adelaide's future

Thursday, May 8, 2025

"Adelaide has a rich history in the WNBL, producing many star athletes who are also Olympians and WNBA champions."

The Adelaide Lightning will continue to thrive in the WNBL, after the league and the South Australian government threw their support behind the 32-year-old club.

The Lightning have won five championships since entering the league in 1993, but their future was in severe doubt after previous owners relinquished their license to Basketball Australia in August 2024.

The Malinauskas Labor Government will provide significant financial and in-kind support of more than half a million dollars, joining forces with the WNBL to ensure the continued and sustainable growth of women’s basketball in South Australia.

The Lightning will have access to train at the newly-opened $88 million South Australian Sports Institute headquarters, including office space, a training gym and court, medical and physiotherapy support, while retaining their place in the WNBL competition.

“Adelaide has a rich history in the WNBL, producing many star athletes who are also Olympians and WNBA champions,” WNBL CEO Jennie Sager said.

“It was always our preference to keep a team here and we are incredibly grateful for the support from the South Australian government which allows us to do so.”

“We are proud to partner with the South Australian Government to build the new era of the WNBL, ensuring the next generation of female basketballers have an elite pathway and competition,” Chair of Wollemi Capital Group and Majority Owner of the WNBL Robyn Denholm added.

“Our vision is to be a global leader in women’s sport. The new WNBL delivers the largest investment in Australian basketball history including a Collective Bargaining Agreement that achieves pro-rata pay parity for our female athletes.

“We want to continue to build our world class talent here in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics and beyond.”

Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate and the National Basketball League consortium finalised an agreement to acquire a majority interest in the League in 2024, taking control of its operations in April this year.

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