Fire up! No wait for WNBL26 Grand Final rematch

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The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) has confirmed the second Townsville Tip Off (TTO) will tip off from 17-20 September 2026 at Townsville Stadium, bringing all nine WNBL clubs to tropical North Queensland.

Grand final rematch headlines the WNBL pre-season tournament

The headline act of the 2026 Townsville Tip Off will be a mouth-watering grand final rematch between the reigning champions, the Townsville Fire, and the Perth Lynx. It marks the first time the championship-winning Fire squad will play on home hardwood in front of their faithful since lifting the trophy last season.

Scheduled at Townsville Stadium inside the Murray Sporting Complex, the four-day tournament conveniently lands on the opening weekend of the Queensland school holidays. In a strong nod to the next generation of basketball fans, all kids will be admitted free of charge across the event.

A first look at the Tasmania Jewels

The Townsville Tip Off will also serve as the official unveiling of the league's newest franchise, the Tasmania Jewels. Fans across the country will get their first competitive look at the expansion outfit as they share the floor with the WNBL's established powerhouses ahead of the regular season.

Adding further intrigue, the pre-season tournament will give supporters exclusive access to Opals stars freshly returned from the FIBA World Cup, blending high-performance preparation with a fan-first experience.

Full schedule (all times AEST)

Thursday, September 17 (Fire Up Once: Grand Final rematch)‍

• 7pm - Fire vs Lynx

Friday, September 18 (Business and Networking Night)‍

• 6pm - Lightning vs Jewels
• 8pm - Flyers vs Lynx

Saturday, September 19 (Townsville’s Got Talent)‍

• 12pm - Capitals vs Venom
• 1:45pm – School showcase
• 4pm - Flames vs Jewels
• 6pm - Lightning vs Spirit

Sunday, September 20 (Fire Up Twice: School All Stars and Fire vs Flames)‍

• 10:45am – School All Stars
• 1pm - Capitals vs Flyers
• 2:45pm – School All Stars
• 5pm - Venom vs Spirit
• 7pm - Fire vs Flames

Government and local backing for North Queensland basketball

The 2026 TTO is proudly supported by the Queensland Government Office for Sport and Recreation, Tourism and Events Queensland, Townsville Enterprise and Townsville City Council, with event themes including a Business and Networking Night, Townsville's Got Talent and Fire Up.

Local Member for Townsville Adam Baillie welcomed the return of elite women's basketball to the region.

"We are excited to welcome the WNBL and the Tip Off back to Townsville, and competitions like this continue cement our reputation as the events capital of the North," Mr Baillie said.

"Bringing the nation's best women's basketball to Townsville will back local businesses, attract visitors and give the community a chance to experience elite sport up close while inspiring the next generation."

Townsville City Deputy Mayor Suzy Batkovic said the city continued to grow its sporting footprint.

"Events like the Townsville Tip Off are about more than basketball," Deputy Mayor Cr Batkovic said. "This is a fantastic opportunity to activate our city, attract visitors and showcase Townsville to a national audience.

"As home to the league's best, The Townsville Fire, we love our basketball and hosting the Townsville Tip Off once again is a real coup for our city and a chance to inspire the next generation."

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme said the tournament was quickly becoming a landmark fixture.

"The Townsville Tip Off is fast becoming a highlight on the WNBL calendar, and we're thrilled to bring it back to North Queensland for a second year," she said.

Lauren Jackson, Dave Stevenson eye bigger 2026 edition

WNBL Chief Strategy and Basketball Partnerships Officer, Australian basketball icon Lauren Jackson, said the league was eyeing an even bigger event than the inaugural edition.

"We are incredibly excited to be coming back to Townsville. The fans in Townsville are some of the very best and we can't wait to bring all nine teams back to this wonderful city and put on a great show," Jackson said.

"We have been laser focused on growing this pre-season tournament from a fan experience, community engagement and high-performance perspective - thanks to the support of our partners, we are in a strong position to establish the Townsville Tip Off as a landmark event for North Queensland."

NBL Group CEO Dave Stevenson said the 2026 instalment was shaping as another exciting chapter for the women's game.

"Welcoming the Tasmania Jewels into the league, and bringing all nine clubs together ahead of the season is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of women's basketball and connect fans with the WNBL's outstanding athletes," Stevenson said.

"We're thrilled to return to the home of the reigning WNBL champions, the Townsville Fire, and one of Australia's great basketball communities."

Tickets for the 2026 Townsville Tip Off are on sale now, with kids going free across all four days.