The cream of Australia’s multiple Paralympic medal-winning Gliders squad will come together this weekend as the 2013 National Women's Wheelchair Basketball League tips off tonight in Sydney.

Five teams will battle it out over five rounds of the WNWBL to decide who will take this year’s crown – with this weekend’s action to be followed by rounds in Perth, North Sydney and Brisbane, before finals in Sydney from 6-8 September.  

Teams vying for the 2013 national title are:

• Minecraft Comets (Qld);
• Sydney Uni Flames (NSW);
• Be Active Western Stars (WA);
• Stacks Gouldcamp Bears (NSW); and
• Reigning premiers Victoria (formerly Dandenong Rangers).

Basketball Australia CEO Kristina Keneally said the strength of the WNWBL underpinned the national women’s wheelchair teams – a direct result of the quality home-grown programs providing top-class competition to wheelchair athletes at all levels.

“Since the introduction of the WNWBL in 2000 the quality of competition for women wheelchair basketball players in Australia has gone from strength to strength,” Ms Keneally said.

“As a result our national team, the Gliders – which is made up of the cream of the crop from the WNWBL – is proudly ranked second in the world.

“I encourage basketball fans to get out and see our WNWBL stars in action from this weekend, and be inspired by the incredible talent that is continually produced in this competition.”  

Tom Kyle – who was named as the new Head Coach of the Gliders today – said he looked forward to seeing key players in action throughout the WNWBL season.

“The WNWBL boasts such an impressive breadth of players, from Gliders and former national players to potential national players, juniors and experienced able-bodied women,” Kyle said.

“Seeing the 2013 WNWBL season unfold straight off the bat is a great way to tip-off in the role of Gliders Head Coach, and I look forward to seeing our key squad members on the court over the coming months.”

The WNWBL was introduced in 2000 to provide high quality competition for women wheelchair basketball players from where the national squad could be selected and from which the individual and team skills of female players could be strengthened.

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