British Wheelchair Basketball has announced it is launching the world’s first Women’s Premier League.

The new competition will also be the first professional para-sport league in the UK.

Organisers say the introduction of the Premier League is a game-changing moment for the sport and will help to attract the world’s best wheelchair basketball players. The first season will run from December 2021 to May 2022.

SYSTEM

The creation of the league is a key element of British Wheelchair Basketball’s 12-year strategy, which set out bold targets of delivering a professional domestic league, developing a world-class high-performance system and doubling participation in the sport.

To meet this ambition, the governing body has also announced four high-performance partnerships operating at university sites: Cardiff Metropolitan, Loughborough, East London and Worcester. The universities will each be home to a Women’s Premier League team.

British Wheelchair Basketball CEO Lisa Pearce said: “I am absolutely delighted to be announcing the creation of British Wheelchair Basketball’s Women’s Premier League and our new high-performance partnerships. The league will provide incredible opportunities for elite female talent, both in the UK and internationally and we expect the teams to attract the best players in the world.

PROFILE

“Today is an important moment in achieving our big ambitions for the sport and working with the universities is central to raising the profile of the sport, building new audiences and creating more opportunities for people to play across all levels.”

Amy Conroy, Great Britain wheelchair basketball player, added: “The introduction of the Women’s Premier League is massive for the sport and for us as players.

“The sport is fast-paced and high-octane, and I can’t wait for more people to be able to watch us in action. I hope that it will also challenge misconceptions about disability sport and inspire more people to try wheelchair basketball for themselves.”

Visit the Premier League website.

Pic credit British Wheelchair Basketball / SA Images.