The WNBL is starting off in the best possible way with the Tasmania Jewels playing their inaugural match in front of a sold out crowd at MyState Bank Arena against Geelong Venom on Thursday night.
History will be made on Thursday night and it's only fitting that the state of Tasmania has rallied behind the Jewels just as they have the JackJumpers since they joined the NBL to ensure MyState Bank Arena will be sold out for the occasion.
Not only is it the first game in the WNBL for the Jewels as Tasmania once again is represented in the competition, but it's the first game altogether to open the 2026/27 season just to add to the fitting occasion.
It's the first time that a Tasmanian team will feature in the WNBL since the Hobart Islanders last played in 1996, but just five years earlier they won a championship and that history will be honoured at the same time as the Jewels now carve their own path forward.
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Not only is it exciting for the state of Tasmania that they have a team in the WNBL once again, but championship winning coach Claudia Brassard isn’t interested in just making up the numbers.
She has put together a squad capable of performing well on the court too led by front court pair Darcee Garbin and Keely Froling, and then superstar Australian Opals guard Steph Reid.
Import pair Gianna Kneepkens and Madina Okot will then combine to provide a lethal outside shooter along with a powerful inside presence with Brooke Basham, Taylor Mole, Katie Deeble, Portia Chopping, Mia Jacobs and Ella Tofaeono round out the local core.
Nikki Parker, Andie Smith, Georgia Taylor, Ava McDonald and Chloe Broomhall make up the squad as development players too.
While Okot won't be available for the season-opener on Thursday night because of her WNBA commitments at the Atlanta Dream who are in the Finals, the rest of the squad should be available albeit Reid, Mole and Jacobs will remain game time decisions.
With the game already sold out, coach Brassard is excited to have the state getting behind the Jewels in the same way they have for the JackJumpers, and she can't wait to be part of a historic occasion now on Thursday night.
"It's unbelievable and it's such a statement by Tasmania about getting around their new team and I'm unbelievably proud, and really emotional about it," Brassard said.
"I think it's so exciting. I guess we've put ourselves in the position where the pressure to perform is now good and we'll embrace that, and really rely on the capability of the players and the work that we've put in. We'll just focus on the work that we've done and trust ourselves, and our teammates."
While it is a big occasion for the Jewels and Tasmanian basketball for a sold out first home game, Brassard also wants to make sure the team remains focused on the job at hand because at the end of the day, it's a game to win and not be just part of.
"We're just focused on the process and everything we've been working on over a really good six weeks of pre-season," Brassard said.
"It's a very short period of time to get a team ready, but all of these players get around each other, they're really smart players and have done all the extras that we've asked of them. So we'll be as prepared as we can be."
The Jewels have locked in two-time WNBL championship winner Garbin as their inaugural captain as she makes her return to the league less than 12 months having given birth to daughter Rose.
She has enjoyed great success in the WNBL already with the Townsville Fire and has captained her home state Perth Lynx previously so is a natural fit as captain. She wants to make sure the team gets the balance right between embracing the occasion and focusing on the job at hand.
"I've just played an NBL1 finals and it's that same sort of mentality of you want to savour the moment and embrace everything, but you always try to treat it like a normal game at the same time," Garbin said.
"It's just finding that right balance between enjoying the celebration because we are creating history here in Tassie and it's really, really cool, but making sure we're locked in just like any other game.
"It feels very normal still, which is nice, and I don’t think we've got too much nerves yet but I'm sure once we get to Thursday there'll be a few, but everything's coming together nicely.
"I think we're putting all the pieces together and obviously have got a few people in that rehab group still, but no doubt they'll do everything they can to be ready to go."
WNBL SEASON 2026/27 | ROUND 1
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS v Geelong Venom
MyState Bank Arena, Thursday October 15, 7:00pm
Watch live on 9now and Disney via ESPN
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