Canberra emerges as potential WNBL hub

Uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic has left Basketball Australia officials working on a raft of competition models for the 2020-21 campaign.

Officials are still targeting a November 20 tip-off, with a decision to be made in mid-September on whether that is deemed a feasible option. If not, the opening round will be delayed until January.

Canberra could emerge as an ideal hub location but the move would hinge on government support, with ACT power brokers saying they had not yet been approached by the WNBL on Thursday afternoon.

The home of the reigning champions, the Canberra Capitals, could fit the bill for a hub with accommodation, training and game venue options at the AIS and University of Canberra.

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Townsville and Cairns have been mooted as other hub destinations, with officials conceding it is "highly unlikely, almost certain" no games will be played in Victoria before Christmas.

Basketball Australia executive general manager Paul Maley says a full season in a hub would last about seven weeks, with officials willing to slice the 21-game season down to as little as 14. Broadcast negotiations are ongoing, with potential partners willing to wait until a season is mapped out.

"We are looking at a hub, that is one of the models in play, either as an entire season or a partial solution," Maley said.

"We could have part hub, part home and away depending on how travel restrictions go. We're in discussions with a few different governing bodies. We're definitely pursuing the hub as a potential solution.

"A full season within a hub would be about a seven-week duration. We're still considering a couple of one to two-week hubs within different locations to get us started, if we're confident we could then revert to home and away. It's still that hybrid model that is under consideration.

"There are a few different locations under consideration and we are in discussions with a few different government bodies for support to make that happen.

"It would be unlikely, in fact almost impossible, to have a full 21-game season. We are looking at a couple of different models, being an 18 and a 14-game season which means a lot of games per week, two and sometimes three games per day - obviously not the same teams.

"We'll try to factor in player welfare and making sure we give them adequate rest between games."

The league is preparing to relocate the Perth Lynx amid expectation the Western Australian border will remain shut until at least October 24.

It raises further questions about the demands placed on players in a hub environment, however planning is underway for such a model to allow families to join players.

Basketball Australia's head of women's basketball Lauren Jackson says the prospect of having partners and children join the hub is a key part of discussions with the players association.

"We definitely have to consider it. One of the main things as well is government state and territory legislation around that stuff," Jackson said.

"We've got to remain flexible but be open to all possibilities. At this stage, in any hub-type scenario, we would be thinking there would be that family element to it, absolutely.

"We've been in constant contact with the commission and the players association, we are working closely with them at the moment around what the season is going to look like and how it is going to impact the athletes. We're trying to consider everybody to make sure we put something together that is good."