In another boost for viewers eager to watch more sport during a difficult year for national competitions, the Sal's NBL 18IN18 season will be broadcast live each night on Sky Sport.
The 18IN18 schedule feature's a nightly game at 7:30pm from Thursday November 19 through to Saturday December 5, while the Sunday December 6 Grand Final will be played at 5pm.
The League has announced the season will be played in south Auckland at the Pulman Arena - details HERE.
Sky Sport Chief Executive, Martin Stewart, is excited about the coming season.
“When it comes to supporting women in sport, being able to shine a light on New Zealand’s best female basketball players makes sense to our team. Sky Sport is excited about broadcasting every game of the 18IN18 competition. It’s the first time in more than two decades we’ve been able to cover such a complete tournament. Bring it on!”
League General Manager Justin Nelson is hopeful it's a case of "third time lucky" for the season to be played.
"This year sure has thrown a few curveballs. This is the third time we have put a schedule together for 2020, but thankfully we look well placed to finally get our elite-level athletes back on court for the Sal's NBL women's season," said Nelson.
The creatively designed 18IN18 concept follows on from the successful Sal's NBL Showdown where seven NBL men's teams played 56 games across six weeks, highlighted by the Otago Nuggets winning their first ever piece of NBL silverware.
"This year has been about changing and adapting. Together with the teams and players, we have collectively done a really good job at accepting we currently live in a very different environment for sport.
"Our priorities for both the 18IN18 and the Showdown have never wavered from way back in March when this pandemic bared its teeth - we want our athletes back on court in a safe environment, and we want our fans and sponsors to enjoy seeing New Zealand's national leagues back and going, and delivering plenty of action.
"We are also very fortunate to have a quickly growing group of very supportive commercial partners, along with the continued support of Sky Sport. The future is bright.
"I feel very confident we will emerge from 2020 with more NBL sponsors than ever before, and more potential sponsors asking questions about basketball and the enormous growth we are seeing across all levels of the game.
"We keep saying it, but basketball is loaded with participants and fans and is such an affordable sport for commercial partners to get involved with. In the post-COVID era, it is going to become even clearer that this will be a strength for our game and our national leagues.
"The Sal's NBL 18IN18 is just another example of turning an ordinary year into increased opportunities, both for basketball and for our athletes," Nelson added.
SEASON SCHEDULE: Available HERE
WHAT: Sal's NBL 18IN18
WHERE: Pulman Arena, south Auckland
WHEN: Thursday November 19 to Sunday December 6
TICKETS: On sale at the door
COST: Regular Season Game | Adults $10, Juniors (U18) Free
COST: Finals - to be announced
