Lauren Jackson says 'sky is the limit' for WNBL in broadcast push

The WNBL is in negotiations to have all matches streamed on Kayo Sports this season which would mark the first time every game is on offer live in its history.

League officials are already working with free to air network SBS to complement an existing partnership with pay TV network Fox Sports.

The deal would be a major boost for the league as it enters its 40^th season in an increasingly crowded market.

"There's definitely challenges in women's sport along the way. We're on the right track and we're trying to bring people in and have them be a part of the conversation around marketing," Jackson told The Canberra Times at the WNBL season launch in Canberra on Wednesday.

"The WNBL has definitely gone through highs and lows throughout the 40 seasons, there is no doubt. Obviously we are celebrating all of it.

"For us at the moment, we're trying to learn from the past and trying to get better moving forward.

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"Women's sport is taking great leaps over the past few years and the WNBL, now we're trying to get up there and stay up there with AFLW, netball and cricket.

"Obviously there's a few constraints around finance and things like that. We're trying to get every game live streamed on Kayo this year, and through our WNBL website, which is incredible.

"Visibility is so important. The sky is the limit in basketball for women's athletes. We're fairly unique in that sense."

The WNBL season was launched in Canberra on the eve of the Opals' clash with China at the AIS Arena on Thursday night.

Basketball Australia is banking on a crowd of more than 3000 for the FIBA Asia Cup warm-up game, a figure which is in stark contrast with original plans to play the match behind closed doors.

Canberra Capitals supremos lured the game to the AIS Arena in a move that rewards ACT basketball fans after 4817 turned up to game three of last season's WNBL grand final series.

Capitals co-captain and the league's reigning most valuable player Kelsey Griffin says a bumper crowd witnessing the Opals' first game in Canberra since 2013 will make a huge statement.

"The fan base is there. People want to be involved in basketball and want to watch it. Now it's about creating that momentum and getting people to join the movement behind it," Griffin said.

"As far as sponsorship and media and broadcasting rights, hopefully this will be another great example, as well as our grand final, that there is money to be made in women's sport, and especially in basketball.

"We're at a really good spot in the country as far as women's sport is concerned, it's talked a lot about.

"It's more than just being a niche market getting behind women, people are starting to realise this is fun, exciting and entertaining."

FIBA EXHIBITION GAME

Thursday: Opals v China at AIS Arena, 6.30pm. Tickets from Ticketek.