The Women's National Basketball League began in Australia in 1981 with a membership of 6 teams, initially named the Womenâs Interstate Basketball Conference. In 1982 the competition expanded into another Australian State with the entry of a combined Brisbane team. The new revised program saw Victorian teams traveling to NSW and the Australian Institute of Sport and NSW teams traveling to South Australia and South Australian teams traveling to Victoria. It was not a full home and away competition but the beginnings of what was to come in the future. The competition also changed its name to the more appropriate Womenâs National Basketball League.
Over the years, the success of the Women's Olympic team, the Opals has been vitally linked to the success of the WNBL. The WNBL has seen the development of famous Opals such as Robyn Maher, Michele Timms, Karen Dalton, Rachel Sporn, Shelley Sandie, Julie Nykiel, Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor.