Australian basketball fans will be able to watch the Opals on home soil next month, with both games of the upcoming international series against China set to be broadcast live and free on the 9Network via 9Go!, marking the team's first home series in more than a year.
The two-game blockbuster, to be played at Melbourne's John Cain Arena on 7 and 9 July, will bring two basketball powerhouses together as the Opals continue their preparations towards the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup.
Basketball Australia CEO Matt Scriven said the series presented a wonderful opportunity to showcase world-class basketball to a national audience.
"Having the 9Network broadcast both games is a fantastic outcome for Australian basketball and for sports fans around the country," Scriven said.
"China has long been one of the world's leading women's basketball nations, and the opportunity to host them in Australia is a significant occasion for our sport. We're thrilled that fans across the country will be able to watch the series on free-to-air television."
Nine Wide World of Sports Head of Partnerships and Strategy Simon Fordham said the network was excited to bring the series to Australian audiences.
"As the home of free-to-air basketball in Australia with the NBL, WNBL and the Olympic journeys of the Boomers and Opals here on Nine, we're proud to be showcasing two of the world's leading nations in women's basketball when the Opals take on China," Fordham said.
"Fans can enjoy it all live and free as the next generation of Aussie hoops stars gets their chance to shine on the international stage."
Tickets for both games are available via Ticketek.
This is the bit where Melbourne turns the temperature down and everything else up. Because winter here isn't something to get through, it's something to lean into. It's the scent of fresh coffee drifting out of laneway roasters, the neon-lit glow of hidden bars that feel like secrets, the sudden warmth of a gallery, a gig, a perfectly timed bowl of something slow-cooked and soul-filling.
At Melbourne's iconic sporting venues, the atmosphere is everything. It's the shared chants, the collective gasps, the edge-of-your-seat moments you feel in your chest.
Come winter in Melbourne, it’s every bit different.
