With the right people on board, we strongly believe it’s entering its Matildas slash Caitlin Clark era – getting the resourcing and attention the league and its players have always deserved.
The WNBL 2025/26 season has been a big one, and Lauren Jackson has played a significant role in drive a new chapter a part-time Special Advisor.
Last year, the WNBL announced that the 7-time WNBL champion, 4-time WNBL MVP, and participant in five WNBA All-Star teams would play a pivotal role in guiding the WNBL evolution under its new owners, the Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate and the NBL Group, who officially came on board last year.
If the name Wollemi Capital Group sounds familiar – it’s the family office of leading Australian businesswoman Robyn Denholm, who is currently the chair of the Tesla board (just casually). Denholm also has a 30% stake in the Sydney Kings men’s team, and the Sydney Flames in the WNBL – of which her daughter Victoria is President. Backing women’s sport clearing runs in the family, and it’s something we love to see.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of this next chapter for the WNBL,” Jackson said at the time of the announcement. “This League has been at the heart of my journey in basketball. Now, I have the chance to help create an exciting future where our talented players thrive in a professional environment worthy of their skill and passion. I can’t wait to get started.”
Retiring from professional basketball in 2016 after a highly decorated career, Jackson has had a lasting legacy in both Australia and global basketball. In a statement, the WNBL said that Jackson’s mission is clear: “to reignite the WNBL as a powerhouse of women’s sport, bringing it to more fans, more homes, and more headlines across Australia”.
Jackson’s role with the WNBL has been part-time, while she’s continued her work as Head of Women in Basketball at Basketball Australia, and She Hoops – an organisation empowering women in basketball through pathways, mentoring, and education. In January 2026, the newly reopened Lauren Jackson Sports Centre in Albury hosted a She Hoops Clinic, delivered in conjunction with the Australian Junior Country Cup. Opals captain Tess Madgen joined Lauren in leading the clinic for “on-court skill development and engagement” catered for participants aged 6-14.
Madgen commended Lauren’s commitment to furthering opportunities in the sport, “especially for women and girls”.
“Her vision, work ethic, leadership and selflessness were on full display on Wednesday, from sharing her greatest achievements at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre to inspiring the next generation through the She Hoops clinic,” said Madgen, as per Basketball Australia.
“You truly can’t be what you can’t see, and LJ has lived this across generations, inspiring those I grew up with through to the six-year-olds of today. We are so lucky to learn from her, and I feel incredibly grateful to work alongside her.”
Meanwhile in terms of the WNBL, its new CEO Jennie Sager has previously said that bringing Lauren on-board as Special Advisor was a “no-brainer.”
“She’s a trailblazer, a five-time Olympian, and someone who knows what it takes to build success,” she said. “Her deep connection to the League, her experience as a player, and her vision for its future will be instrumental in helping us raise the bar and deliver a bigger, bolder WNBL.”
The League’s latest owners have ambitious plans, with a focus on reimagining what women’s basketball can be in Australia. The collaborative effort between Basketball Australia, the new ownership group, players, and clubs is well underway, with Jackson helping guide key decisions as the WNBL embarks on this game-changing growth journey.
Top photo source: AAP Image/Joel Carrett