Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The WNBL is considering pushing back the start of next season’s competition, with several big-name players expected to miss the opening games of the upcoming campaign.
Reigning league MVP Isobel Borlase (Bendigo), Opal Miela Sowah (Townsville) and import Madina Okot (Tasmania) will not feature in at least the opening two weekends of the Australian competition when it begins on Thursday.
They will instead be competing in the WNBA finals, where Borlase and Okot are looking to deliver the Atlanta Dream their first title, while Sowah is part of the Golden State Valkyries’ fairytale run.
With the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup held in September, the American competition stopped for 17 days and subsequently ended later than scheduled.
This means the league has directly clashed with the start of the WNBL campaign.
Making matters worse, in 2027 the WNBA is expanding the number of regular-season games, meaning the competition will run until November.
With the prospect of WNBL imports and Australian Opals still playing overseas, there is a huge risk that marquee players could miss the opening month of the league if it starts in October, as it does this season.
“We’re always considering what the best possible situation is for not only Australians but other international players that want to play in the WNBL,” the league’s chief operating officer Justin Nelson told AAP.
“Is there the prospect of maybe starting a little bit later? The short answer is yes.
“But how much we may or may not move is still to be seen.”
Adelaide Lightning coach Aja Parham-Ammar is waiting to see how Opal Steph Talbot pulls up after her Las Vegas Aces were knocked out of the WNBA semi-finals on Saturday (AEDT).
The Lightning play the Sydney Flames on Sunday, but of bigger concern beyond whether she will play is that Talbot has missed all of the team’s pre-season.
“It (not having Talbot) can be disruptive or disjointed a bit, but you’ve got to be grateful that you have talent that’s playing at the highest level,” the coach told AAP.
“It (moving the season back) is definitely a conversation to be had. With WNBA being the top league, you want to be able to bring that top talent over and not create issues with recruiting.”
Also in a sticky situation are the Geelong Venom, who have recruited towering superstar Han Xu.
The Chinese national was part of the New York Liberty side that lost the semi-final against Atlanta, and it is unclear if she will feature in the WNBL season opener against the Tasmania Jewels on Thursday.
Regardless, star guard Bec Cole says the Venom will back themselves to win.
“We can still beat teams without Han, and then (when Geelong) bring her in there’ll be an adjustment period because she’s going to be a big facet of what we do,” Cole told AAP.
“It is hard, and we are a new team, but that’s just the game of basketball, and we’re all professional.”
