A new franchise and revised finals format headline the new WNBL season which tips off on Thursday night with the Tasmania Jewels making their league debut.
The addition of a ninth club sees the post-season structure move to a top five with an Eliminator Final between 4th and 5th.
Aussie gun Georgia Amoore plays in her home league for the first time while Chinese megastar Han Xu returns and has joined Geelong. Her impact last season has spilled into #WNBL27 with a further three Chinese players joining the league.
Games record holder and five-time champion Kelly Wilson, after one appearance in 2025-26, resumes her history-breaking career closing in on 500 games.
ESPN's Megan Hustwaite previews the new WNBL season.
ADELAIDE LIGHTING
Coach: Aja Parham-Ammar
Captain: Steph Talbot
Finished Last Season: 7th
Roster: Zitina Aokuso, Tayla Brazel, Elissa Brett, Shay Ciezki, Aspen Crase, Jess McDowell-White, Gemma Potter, Steph Talbot, Kiara Waite, Maddy Westbeld. Development Players: Sienna Lehmann, Coco Hodges, Abbey Jones
The Lightning are revelling in stability following a season that saw three coaches lead the team with interim Aja Parham-Ammar later rewarded with the gig.
She's benefited from a proper lead-in and pre-season building a roster which features two Opals, solid imports and Australians who want to get better.
"Our best basketball is playing free, together and with pace, using the high IQ we have on the court, that will change from game-to-game but what carries over is our grittiness, attention to detail and really finding joy in what we're doing," Parham-Ammar says.
Steph Talbot remains the jewel in Adelaide's crown and is home after a terrific World Cup campaign and productive WNBA season with Las Vegas aces where she averaged her most minutes in six seasons (17.3).
Aokuso can stamp her authority inside and all over the league with Tayla Brazel, riding a wave of confidence after her involvement with the Gangurrus, primed for a breakout season.
Already a talent, point guard Shay Ciezki is working hard to become elite while Maddy Westbeld is a big with guard-like skills developing her defensive game. Both played for Phoenix Mercury in 2026.
BENDIGO SPIRIT
Coach: Kennedy Kereama
Captain: Kelsey Griffin, Marianna Tolo
Finished Last Season: 3rd
Roster: Georgia Booth, Isobel Borlase, Kelsey Griffin, Mia Harvery, Jade Melbourne, Olivia Pollerd, Kelsey Rees, Casey Samuels, Marianna Tolo, Abbey Wehrung, Kelly Wilson. Development Players: Mia Harvey, Olivia Olechnowicz
"Youth and experience" is a well-worn, overused cliché but an accurate one to describe the Spirit who have the best of both worlds - more than 1000 games between league legends Kelsey Griffin, Marianna Tolo and Kelly Wilson and the best two young guns in the land with Jade Mebourne now a teammate of reigning league MVP Isobel Borlase.
The latter humming after her rookie WNBA season and now crack at the championship with Atlanta Dream.
Add in two great players at the level, in Abbey Wehrung and a healthy Casey Samuels, plus the continued ascendancy of Kelsey Rees and Liv Pollard and Bendigo will again be contending for a second title in three years under reigning Coach of the Year Kennedy Kereama.
If a fresh change is the same tonic for Melbourne as it was for Borlase last season, eight other clubs have an almighty headache on their hands.
GEELONG VENOM
Coach: Cheryl Chambers
Captains: Alex Sharp
Finished Last Season: 6th
Roster: Indi Bowyer, Bec Cole, Mackenzie Clinch-Hoycard, Dakota Crichton, Maddy Rocci, Lilly Rotunno, Alex Sharp, Sara-Rose Smith, Han Xu, Wanglai Zhang. Development Players: Alex Connolly, Millie McCarthy, Jasmine King, Poppy Stevens
The Venom have had a reset in roster and coach with Cheryl Chambers resuming her successful and storied 300-plus-game career at Geelong.
She's had some big, literally, bigs in her time - think Liz Cambage, Kayla Thornton, Lauren Jackson, Mercedes Russell - and now Chambers has the tallest of them all in Xu who will be central to all Geelong do.
Three-time champion Maddy Rocci is turning a new leaf at the regional city and her knowledge of the league, her opponents and how to run a team will be crucial to a new line-up.
An Achilles injury prevented Bec Cole from fulfilling her first contract abroad last season and if she can get back to her form of earlier this decade will fulfil a top comeback story. The influence of Alex Sharp at both ends will go a long way towards a maiden finals campaign as will the continued rise of Lilly Rotunno and Indi Bowyer.
PERTH LYNX
Coach: Ryan Petrik
Captains: Anneli Maley
Finished Last Season: 2nd
Roster: Sam Ashby, Georgia Amoore, Alex Ciabattoni, Steph Gorman, Chloe Hodges, Teonni Key, Anneli Maley, Teige Morrell, Haley Peters Development Players: Kyana Weir, Brooke Malone
Perennial finalist Perth have put a heartbreaking grand-final series defeat and the loss of several big names behind them with Ryan Petrik, as always, building a roster than can contend and entertain.
Georgia Amoore is a stud and timing was perfect when her contract in China fell through and she was able to replace Sami Whitcomb. She'll have the keys and freedom that Aari McDonald circa 2023-24 had and will pace Perth and can take the competition by storm.
The human workhorse that is Anneli Maley comes off a WNBA season with New York and is the DNA of this program. Her return and those of Alex Ciabattoni and a healthy Steph Gorman are significant.
Haley Peters couldn't have impressed more in pre-season and adds a healthy dose of IQ, experience and versatility to a Lynx line-up which features 2026 WNBA draftee Teonni Key at the five.
SOUTHSIDE MELBOUNE FLYERS
Coach: Sam Mackinnon
Captain: Haylee Andrews, Carley Ernst
Finished Last Season: 4th
Roster: Haylee Andrews, Lara Edmanson, Carley Ernst, Holly Griffiths, Hannah Hank, Tess Heal, Claire Jacobs, Saffron Shiels, Wang Siyu, Sakima Walker, Isobelle Wightman. Development Players: Macey Boyle, Holly Griffiths, Nala Fakalata
After taking a semi-final game against eventual champs Townsville, Southside underwent an off-season overhaul and in #WNBL27 have a new coach in former Boomer and NBL legend Sam Mackinnon and just one returning player: Haylee Andrews.
Wang Siyu was close to wearing teal in the back end of last season and is a genuine top-tier international player with a high IQ, scoring prowess and a blast of experience in an otherwise exciting, young team. The Flyers will hope their other import, athletic Minnesota Lynx rookie Sakima Walker, can replicate the form of the centres in teal who have gone before her.
Excitement surrounds the return to play of WNBA draftee Saffron Shiels who's missed a year of basketball through a foot injury. A healthy Shiels is as promising as her length, athleticism and ability to get to the basket. Hannah Hank returns to the WNBL with European and 3x3 stints under her belt, Tess Heal takes the next step in her career post-college while the return of Carley Erst after the birth of her second child is invaluable.
SYDNEY FLAMES
Coach: Renae Garlepp
Captain: N/A
Finished Last Season: 8th
Roster: Issie Bourne, Maya Dodson, Charlise Dunn, Agnes Emma-Nnopu, Issie Morgan, Lauren Nicholson, Darcy Rees, Jaz Shelley, Yang Shuyu. Development Players: Alex Oliver, Peggy Schell, Zoe Miller
It's a decade since Sydney's last championship and the roster Garlepp has assembled will give the Flames their best chance of silverware yet.
Ally Wilson was a member of that winning team, which boasted Belinda Snell, Leilani Mitchell and Asia Taylor, and returns to the Harbour City as a national representative and league star. A knee injury hampered her #WNBL26 and a groin niggle, sustained at September's World Cup, has restricted her in pre-season with the 32-year-old training with the team for the first time on Monday.
Her World Cup teammate Issie Bourne is also a great get and will team up with import Maya Dodson inside. The offensive weapons are endless in Jaz Shelley, Chinese star Yang Shuyu, fresh-out-of-college Charlise Dunn and the returning Loz Nicholson.
TASMANIA JEWELS
Coach: Claudia Brassard
Captain: Darcee Garbin
Finished Last Season: N/A
Roster: Brooke Basham, Darcee Garbin, Katie Deeble, Keely Froling, Mia Jacobs, Gianna Kneepkens, Taylor Mole, Madina Okot, Steph Reid, Ella Tofaeono. Development Players: Chloe Broomhall, Portia Chopping, Ava McDonald, Nikki Parker, Andie Smith, Georgia Taylor
The league's newest franchise has already made a big impression in its community building a following and an enviable membership base and now it's go time. Winners win and the Jewels have that pedigree in inaugural coach Claudia Brassard. "We want to play with physicality and take advantage of our size and height, hoping to get to being a really high IQ team that's connected, plays well together on the floor, pressuring up and down," Brassard says.
"And most importantly for us is representing what Tassie's about and that's giving 110 per cent every time we hit the floor." Import centre Madina Okot will miss the first few games as her WNBA team Atlanta plays for the championship while marquee Steph Reid isn't yet at full health through bone bruising to her knee.
Highly-touted former UCLA star and 2026 WNBA draft selection Gianna Kneepkens is a knockdown three-point shooter with Brassard likening her to her 2017-18 Townsville championship import Sydney Weise.
World Cup bronze medallist Darcee Garbin is back in the WNBL after welcoming her first child and complemented by Keely Froling in length, leadership and scoring ability.
TOWNSILLE FIRE
Coach: Shannon Seebohm
Captain: Courtney Woods
Finished Last Season: Champions
Roster: Cheyenne Bobongie, Emma Clarke, Abbey Ellis, Chloe Forster, Alex Fowler, Alicia Froling, Marie Gulich, Lauren Jensen, Miela Sowah, Courtney Woods. Development Players: Antoinette Emma-Nnopu, Bree Stephens, Caitlin Van Es
The reigning champs have got even stronger and are perfectly placed to continue their dominance of the modern era. Seebohm has retained the majority of his group, aside from Europe-bound Chantel Horvat and imports Lucy Olsen and Lauren Cox, then added to it. As only he can.
German centre Marie Gulich is a tremendous get with her years of experience in Europe, genuine size and presence. Her signing might not have attracted the bells and whistles of other imports but she may easily be the best. And to think she'll come off the bench!
Emerging US guard Lauren Jensen is at the start of her pro-career while a healthy Emma Clark adds to already significant depth.
The highs have continued for the Fire core since last season's championship with WNBA experience and World Cup selection for Miela Sowah, about to embark on a WNBA Finals run, and Alex Fowler, Courtney Woods and Abbey Ellis again represented the Opals with Alicia Froling winning another two titles and earning a national debut.
UC CAPITALS
Coach: Paul Goriss
Co-Captains: Isa Brancatisano, Nicole Munger
Finished Last Season: 5th
Roster: Amy Atwell, Isa Brancatisano, Caitie Jones, Meg McConnell, Nicole Munger, Isabel Palmer, Manuela Puoch, Nyadiew Puoch, Sharne Robarti, Charlotte Whittaker. Development Players: Jazmyn Boutzos, Zara Funnell
It's new look, new names for the Caps who move into their post-Jade Melbourne era.
The Opals and WNBA guard has been the face and heart of the club since her 2020 hub debut and now its Nyadiew Puoch's spotlight to step into after a positive rookie WNBA season with Portland Fire which should fill the 22-year-old with the confidence to soar and make this team her own. And she'll do it alongside younger sister Manny who joins from Southside and adds size and perimeter shooting.
A healthy Amy Atwell can recapture her devastating best, import Meg McConnell returns to the league and, with a season at Bendigo under her belt, is better equipped to run a team and knows the lay of the WNBL land, Isabel Palmer has limitless potential, Caitie Jones made an impact during the Townsville pre-season tournament while every team needs what Nicole Munger and Isa Brancatisano bring.