Tasmania Jewels break WNBL records ahead of historic debut
Historic return ends 30-year hiatus
The Tasmania Jewels are set to make history as they take to the court for their first Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) game in three decades. The team will face the Geelong Venom at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart, marking the first time a professional women’s basketball side has represented the island since the Hobart Islanders folded in 1996.
Before a ball has even been tipped off, the franchise has already rewritten the league’s record books. The Jewels have shattered existing membership records and sold out their inaugural home fixture, harnessing the same wave of local support that recently propelled the NBL’s Tasmania JackJumpers to prominence.
Captain Darcee Garbin expressed disbelief at the level of community engagement during an appearance on Nine’s Today. She noted the unprecedented nature of the achievement prior to the start of competitive play.
“It’s unreal…we’ve broken all these records, and we haven’t even played a game yet,” Garbin said.
Garbin added that she hoped the team would translate this off-court enthusiasm into a strong performance, stating her desire to put plenty of points on the board during the historic matchup.
Opals trio headlines new era
Head coach Claudia Brassard has assembled a squad featuring three Australian Opals: Garbin, Steph Reid and Keely Froling. The pressure is now on this experienced core to deliver on the court after generating significant excitement off it.
Beyond the immediate competition, Garbin highlighted the broader legacy the team is building for Tasmanian basketball. For the first time in 30 years, young athletes in the state have a professional pathway available to them without needing to relocate to the mainland.
Garbin described the opportunity for local boys and girls to be inspired by the Jewels as a major benefit of the team’s establishment. She emphasised that players no longer need to leave the island to pursue a serious basketball career, a hurdle that has historically forced many talented Tasmanians to move away.
The opening night also holds deep personal significance for Garbin, who is returning to elite competition just 10 months after giving birth to her daughter, Rose. She described the comeback as the most humbling, hardest, yet most amazing experience of her life.
Garbin admitted that regaining her competitive edge after pregnancy was challenging, describing some days as feeling like a competition in themselves. However, she reported feeling strong ahead of the tip-off and expressed emotion at the prospect of having her family cheer from the sidelines.
The WNBL season officially begins on Thursday night, with the Tasmania Jewels facing the Geelong Venom at 7pm AEDT. The match will be broadcast on 9Now.
Original source: 9news . Access to the original article may depend on the publisher’s paywall or subscription settings.
Like this:
Related
Follow topics from this story
Choose any category you would like to add to My NewZ. Nothing is followed automatically.