Australia's leading basketball body has left the door ajar for a potential Tasmanian bid in the national women's basketball league in the coming years.
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Basketball fever has hit the Apple Isle ahead of the Tasmania JackJumpers debuting in the NBL in the coming months which could see a WNBL franchise also appear in the state.
A potential Tasmania WNBL side would be the newest franchise since the now defunct South East Queensland Stars joined the competition for a solitary season in 2015-16.
In a statement, Basketball Australia said that WNBL expansion was always on the cards for potential franchise bids.
"The interest in women's basketball has never been higher, we have seen major growth in participation across all age groups. We are always open to discussions to expand the WNBL, if it works for our clubs and fans," they said.
"There could be potential for expansion over the coming years."
The Basketball Australia admission comes after Basketball Tasmania and the JackJumpers declared their views on a potential Tasmanian WNBL side in the coming years.
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The two organisations have both previously confirmed having talks with Basketball Australia about the possibility of having a team in Australia's leading women's basketball competition.
Basketball Tasmania said last week while a bid would be unlikely from them, they would fully support a bid for the state in the coming years.
The JackJumpers confirmed they had "high-level" positive discussions about the potential of fielding a WNBL side under the JackJumpers name under a 'one-club' structure.
"We have made some specific inquiries to Basketball Australia as to whether that would be possible and whether we could have a licence alongside the men," JackJumpers chief executive Simon Brookhouse told The Examiner.
"The discussions I've had have been very high-level but they've been very positive about talking more so we'll definitely talk more to them [Basketball Australia] when the time is right and see if we can work together to make it a reality.
"That's really in Basketball Australia's hands in terms of when and if they want to expand their competition beyond what it currently is."
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Both organisations agreed a bid should target the 2023-24 period as a debut season for the franchise.
The state is preparing to host two WNBL games next season, set to be played between January and March next year.
The arrangement will see the Bendigo Spirit and the Southside Flyers travel south to play for the first WNBL points in the Tasmania since the Islanders represented the state almost three decades ago.
The Islanders were Tasmania's last WNBL side but after claiming the 1991 title, the team folded in 1996.
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