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Reigning WNBL Champions the Bendigo Spirit will take on the Geelong Venom in a highly anticipated pre-season clash at Warrnambool Stadium on Saturday 4 October, bringing elite women’s basketball to the heart of Victoria’s southwest coast.
The game will be accompanied by a series of community activities designed to inspire and engage local youth.
The event marks a significant opportunity for young boys and girls in the region to witness professional female athletes in action, reinforcing the importance of visibility and representation in sport.
Dan Jackson, General Manager of Bendigo Spirit, said the team is excited to connect with the Warrnambool community.
“We’re thrilled to bring Bendigo Spirit to Warrnambool. It’s more than just a game - it’s a chance for young people to see what’s possible. When kids see professional female athletes competing at the highest level, it plants a seed. It shows them that they can dream big, regardless of gender," he said.
“With both us and the Venom being based in Victorian regional centres ourselves, we can see the impact that having a professional sports team based locally has on the community, so we hope we can bring a little bit of that influence to Warranambool and the surrounding communities when we visit.”
The Spirit will also deliver a variety of community engagement activities throughout the day, including basketball clinics and meet-and-greet sessions with players and coaches.
Warrnambool City Councillor, Richard Ziegeler, welcomed the event as a milestone for the city.
Basketball is huge in Warrnambool – the Seahawks and Mermaids are institutions of the city, and participation at a junior level is strong – so we’re really excited to be working with Warrnambool Basketball to bring the reigning WNBL champions to the city," he said.
"It’s a real privilege to host a team of this calibre. The Bendigo Spirit have multiple Opals among their ranks, and we hope their visit encourages more women and girls to get involved and stay involved in sport.
"Off the court, there will be a coach the coach session suitable for coaches of any sport, and we are also hosting a business lunch.
"It’s shaping up to be a big few months for basketball, with the Spirit visiting in October and the 3x3 Champions League tournament in December. Both great partnerships and both terrific additions to our events calendar in the lead up to the summer peak season."
Warrnambool Basketball Association President, Paul Barker, spoke of his excitement to be hosting WNBL action, and involving them in the community.
"Warrnambool Basketball is thrilled to have entered into an agreement with Bendigo Spirit to bring their team down to Warrnambool for a preseason game against Geelong. With Bendigo being the reigning WNBL Champions, this is a great opportunity for south-west basketball fans to come out & witness a quality of women’s basketball not often seen in our region.
"We are also super excited to announce that we will be conducting a community kids clinic as well as an elite specialised training for female athletes. With players of the calibre of Kelsey Griffin & Marianna Tolo in attendance, both of whom have represented Australia at international level, this is a fantastic opportunity for players in our region to rub shoulders with some of the best in the business and further develop their skills.
"We will also be running a coaches season to provide our local coaches with an opportunity to learn from some of the WNBL’s best.
"We hope our community gets right behind these events, as we hope to develop an on-going relationship with Bendigo Spirit where regular events can be held as well as a pathway for our elite basketballers to a higher level of competition."
Tickets for the game will be available through Warrnambool Basketball’s website and at the venue if not sold out prior. Further information will follow regarding community and business activities.