'Cloud Nine': Hobart wins ninth licence in 2026-27

• Tasmania confirmed as the WNBL’s ninth team, returning for the first time since 1996
• The team's name and brand will be decided by the fans
• League has eyes a 10th team as women’s basketball surges in popularity across Australia and globally

Tasmania will have the ninth WNBL team — based in Hobart — for the 2026-27 season.

“With the new energy, investment, and passion in the WNBL, it is the right time for Tasmania to return to the league," WNBL CEO Jennie Sager said.

"For the first time since 1996, Tasmanian WNBL fans can watch a game in their home state.

“We thank the (Tasmania) JackJumpers for believing in our vision and backing the future of women’s basketball.

"With one in five girls playing basketball in this country, this new team helps increase opportunities and inspire a new generation of girls to dream big."

Sager said the team, which will be run by the JackJumpers, will have a new identity separate to the NBL team with the name, branding and logo to be decided by fans in the coming months, similar to what the revamped Geelong Venom did as they changed from Geelong United.

The WNBL announced the defining moment in its 45-year history today, along with appointing Kayla Steindl — former WNBL player and wife of JackJumpers championship captain Clint Steindl — as its first full-time employee in the position of assistant general manager.

But the WNBL didn't stop there, revealing it planned to expand to 10 teams with the search already underway for its location.

"We've been pretty open since taking ownership that we always had goals to expand to more teams in the WNBL and always when you're looking at these things you're balancing up the right time and how many teams you can expand to at any given time and then can you continue to make sure that there's enough elite athletes to retain the quality of the game," Sager told basketball.com.au.

"You don't want to essentially expand too quickly and you've got to balance everything.

"So, there's a lot of factors that go into that and there's a lot of learnings there as well from leagues like the WNBA who, years ago expanded too quickly, then went backwards a little bit and now are expanding again.

"You're always looking at the right interested parties, where the league is at as a whole and then also the athletes and what's available to them.

"Once you weigh up all of those factors, we really felt like going to nine teams next season was definitely the right way to go and as you can imagine, there's a lot of interested parties and a lot of investigation that goes into it, but I think it was clear from the get-go that Tassie had the right framework from an investment schedule, but also the backing and the community and the interest there and then the business plan as well and that's what got us there really quickly with Tasmania."

Sager also said a new high performance centre set to be complete by mid-2026 and significant government support were also key factors in Tasmania entering the WNBL.

While Brisbane seems the obvious choice for the location for the 10th team, Sager said they were opening up expressions of interest.

"We've already kicked-off some conversations with interested parties... but we really want to make it clear that this process is open to everyone and we're really curious to see who's out there," she said.

"I think it's about balancing everything, it's about balancing the facilities, the community backing, government support, fan engagement, I mean, you're really looking to put all of those puzzle pieces together.

"I think there's a clear gap in Queensland where when you look at the southern part of the state, I think there's a clear gap there where there's not a team but there's also great opportunities in other areas of the country. So, we're not discounting anything, again, we're more looking to really balance those puzzle pieces and find the right fit."

Brisbane Bullets CEO Malcolm Watts confirmed his club's plans to enter a WNBL team back in March, with the potential to be based at the club's new high-performance centre in South Brisbane in March this year.

"When I came in as CEO, the ownership group gave me three priorities, and one was for the club to bring a women's team back to the city of Brisbane," Watts told basketball.com.au's Brayden Heslehurst.

"The ownership group of the Bullets is fully behind this. It is crucial for the maturity of the club that we are heavily involved in driving community outcomes alongside Basketball Queensland for the growth of the game.

"For young girls to see their heroes, be inspired, and have a pathway to progress into a professional environment is so important.

"There is strong demand and support for women's basketball here.

"With the female talent we have in Brisbane and southeast Queensland, there is no doubt we will be well placed to have an extremely talented roster."

The Hobart franchise will create 10 new roster spots, new career opportunities for coaches, support staff and leadership roles.  

Tasmania’s strong basketball legacy spans across the WNBA to Opals star Alanna Smith, the rapid rise of the JackJumpers — who joined the NBL in 2021 and last season sold out every home game — and growing grassroots participation across the State. 

Tasmanian JackJumpers CEO Christine Finnegan said it was a proud moment not just for the State but the league and a strong step forward.

“This is an incredibly proud day for this club and for the State of Tasmania," Finnegan said.

"We are so proud to expand the club to now have an inspirational and aspirational pathway for both girls and boys.

“We are thrilled to have secured the first expansion license and to now begin to build a successful and sustainable women’s program, building on the strong foundations that have already been established and expand our footprint and impact on the state.”

With Tasmania locked in as the WNBL’s ninth team, the league has also officially launched its search for a 10th team.

The WNBL is capitalising on the unprecedented global surge in women’s basketball with eight Australians playing in the WNBA and as many of five others earning training camp tryouts as well as the Australian Opals winning the 2025 Asia Cup. and Australian Gems winning the silver medal at the FIBA Under-19 Women's World Cup this year.

“The talent pool for Australian women’s basketball has never been deeper, and we’re committed to growing the professional game domestically," WNBL owner Victoria Denholm said.

"We want to provide more local playing opportunities for our elite players, and expanding the league is a key way to do that.

“There are incredible people right across the country who feel just as passionate about the growth of the WNBL as we are.

"The addition of a 10th team is a rare opportunity to join our us and build on our vision to create a strong, sustainable league. 

“We want to hear exactly why you should have a team and join us in providing more women the opportunity to pursue their dreams.” 

The last Tasmanian team to compete in the WNBL was the Hobart Islanders from 1986 to 1996. The Islanders reached their third straight Grand Final in 1991, winning their only championship 67-64, led by Australian basketball legend Robyn Maher against her old club Nunawading Spectres.

Sager said expansion showed the momentum behind women's basketball at the moment and expected it to boost corporate backing of the WNBL as well as interest on television. She also said the WNBL has "locked in" its broadcast partners for the upcoming season and fans could expect an announcement "very soon".

More details about the Tasmanian team will be revealed in the coming months.