Women's Basketball Conference

Women's Basketball Conference
SportBasketball
Founded1984
First season1984
Ceased1989
CountryAustralia
ContinentFIBA Oceania (Oceania)

The Women's Basketball Conference (WBC) was a women's basketball league in Australia. The WBC began in 1984 and served as a second-tier national league under the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). It operated for six seasons until it was adopted by the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 1990.

History

In 1981, the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) was established. In 1983, it was determined that two national competitions were required for the development of women's basketball in Australia. A second-tier reserves league to sit under the WNBL was established, with the Women's Basketball Conference (WBC) debuting in 1984.[1][2] The inaugural WBC champions were the Hobart Hustlers, which was followed by the Canberra Capitals winning in 1985,[1] the South Adelaide Panthers in 1986,[1][3] and the WAIS Rockets in 1987.[4] The Dandenong Rangers won at least one WBC championship in 1989.[5][6]

In 1990, the WBC was adopted by the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL)[1][5][7] to become the inaugural SEABL women's competition.[8]

League championships

Year Champion Ref
1984 Hobart Hustlers [1]
1985 Canberra Capitals [1]
1986 South Adelaide Panthers [3]
1987 WAIS Rockets [4]
1988 ?
1989 Dandenong Rangers [a]

Notes

  1. ^ The Dandenong Rangers are noted as being "three-time WBC champs" in one source[5] but in another source are noted as having "won three CBA (SEABL) titles in a row" in the lead up to joining the WNBL in 1992.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "FLASHBACK 99a: NWBL, WBC 1986". botinagy.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  2. ^ "History of the WNBL". WNBL. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "History". Basketball South Australia. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b O'Donoghue, Craig (24 March 2022). "Perth Lynx overcame a tough WNBL season but their finals campaign can be built on WAIS Rockets heritage". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Rangers a force beyond 25 years". botinagy.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024. ...Dandenong already three-time WBC champs.
  6. ^ a b Hustwaite, Megan (11 January 2017). "Dandenong Rangers celebrate a whirlwind 25 years in the WNBL". heraldsun.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024. Dandenong had won three CBA (equivalent of SEABL) titles in a row...
  7. ^ "BA death knell for SEABL". botinagy.com. 23 August 2018. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023. The WNBL's second-tier comp, the WBC, eventually was adopted as the SEABL's women's division.
  8. ^ "HISTORIC MOVE FOR AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL". Basketball Australia. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2017.