Michele Timms believes FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will leave a true legacy in Australia

Basketball Australia Hall of Fame Legend Michele Timms believes the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup currently underway in Sydney, will leave a true legacy in Australia.

Earlier this year Timms helped launch the Molten Ball Relay that saw the official World Cup ball visit more than 20 junior basketball clubs across the country. She believes connecting young players to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup through the relay and showcasing the world's best on home soil, will undoubtedly get more young females active in the sport.

Molten, FIBA and Australian Women’s Basketball World Cup Organising Committee, provided junior players across Australia with the opportunity to see the official World Cup Ball ahead of FIBA's flagship women's event returning to Australia for the first time since 1994.

Timms showed off the balls signed by junior players across Australia, and joined in with school students to further inspire a new generation of basketball players and fans.

Timms shared “it is absolutely fantastic to be here, especially representing Molten and be part of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

“The Molten Relay was a great initiative, similar to the torch going around prior to the Olympics, we had the Molten official game balls going all around Australia, from Tasmania, to Melbourne, Sydney up to the Kimberley’s (WA). It was fantastic that the basketball community really jumped on board.

“Basketball is just a great vehicle to get kids moving. The sparkle these junior players have in their eyes when they talk about the World Cup and say ‘that’s what I want to be, I want to play for Australia one day’. It’s absolutely fantastic.”

This week Timms will also host the lucky three winners of the Molten Female Local Champions program, with three lucky volunteer coaches and administrators from Central Coast (NSW), Gladstone (Qld) and Sydney, who will have the chance to meet world class coaches, referees and go behind the scenes of the World Cup.

Timms said she’s excited to meet the lucky women selected and added “I love the whole initiative of the Molten Female Local Champions program because it's those volunteers that often don’t get rewarded yet they put their blood, sweat and tears into something they love.

“There are 200 people coming to the Opals reunion that’s happening midway through the World Cup, which will be a wonderful occasion, and I’m so glad to be able to enjoy that with the Molten Local Champions winners."

Liz Muenchow, Regional Development Manager, Basketball WA - Kimberley couldn’t be more thankful to have her young players be part of the Molten Ball Relay.

Muenchow shared “the excitement to be a part of a world-wide event for kids up here in the middle of nowhere, touching and signing an actual World Cup ball, developing their literacy, public speaking and confidence... and having the chance to be on TV during the World Cup broadcast is unbelievable.

"The opportunity it brings to reinforce our work to have kids understand the basketball pathway, where they are at, where the World Cup Team is at and where they could go if they go to school, dream big and work hard… priceless.”