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Basketball Australia, in consultation with the Wheelchair National League Clubs, has determined the National Wheelchair Leagues will not proceed in 2020. 

While significant efforts have been made to reschedule these events, the fluid and unpredictable nature of the current situation surrounding COVID-19 has made it impossible for Basketball Australia to make a firm commitment to dates. 

The National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL) is Australia’s national championship league and has been running since 1988. The Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League (WNWBL) would have been celebrating 20 years of play this year having been running since 2000. This will be the first time in the both league histories that a season has had to be cancelled. 

The leagues which run in concurrence with one another, were originally scheduled to commence May 8 and run through to August 2, 2020 with finals to follow. However, tip off on the season had been put on hold as COVID-19 posed uncertainties and interstate travel restrictions tightened. 

With very few Australian Wheelchair Basketball athletes playing in overseas leagues, the NWBL and WNWBL are key for the Australian Rollers and Gliders athletes, would have taken advantage of the National Wheelchair League seasons to aid in their preparations and training for upcoming International competitions such as the Tokyo Paralympics. 

Basketball Australia would like to thank everyone who was involved in the preparation of the 2020 season and looks forward to the 2021 season. 

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Download Media Release – Basketball Australia Announcement of NWL Season Cancellations