Playmakers Program rallies support for FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022

With the most prestigious event in women’s basketball to be held in Australia for the first time in 27 years, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Local Organising Committee (LOC) is uniting a passionate community of supporters.

The local ambassador program, coined the ‘Playmakers Program’, has welcomed a slew of Australian basketball, sporting and entertainment personalities, who are prepared to use their platforms and passion for change to increase the recognition of women’s basketball and build momentum for the Women’s Basketball World Cup on home soil. 

Basketball young guns Ezi Magbegor and Shyla Heal were the first to join global event ambassador and former Australian Opal, Lauren Jackson in the Playmakers Program before additional basketball royalty in Michele Timms and Australian Opal turned-AFLW star Erin Phillips signed onto the initiative.      

Extending the program beyond the basketball community, one of the sport’s biggest fans within Australia’s entertainment industry - Tones & I - will also act as Playmaker for the Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022. The pop singer’s role will culminate with a performance at the tournament’s Opening Ceremony when it commences at Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday, 22nd September.

The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 global event ambassador Lauren Jackson is thrilled to see the support being thrown around the women’s game as Australia prepares to host some of the world’s best basketball players. 

Jackson explained “By definition, a ’playmaker’ is a player in a team game who leads or brings other players on the same side into a position from which they could score, and this program is rallying people passionate about and capable of helping women’s basketball get their scores on the board.

“The public support of these Playmakers presents an exciting opportunity to make some noise about the upcoming FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney and to showcase the incredible strength, agility, power, skills and promise of women’s basketball.”

To progressively increase the impact of the Playmakers Program, Jackson and Timms helped host a Playmakers Party last night at a basketball warehouse, AUSA Facility in Sydney. The basketball-themed event welcomed Australian sporting legends including Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm; Sydney netball stars Maddy Proud, Sam Wallace and Paige Hadley; Aussie cricketers Maitland Brown and Hannah Darlington; GWS AFL captain Toby Greene and others keen to see the Australian women’s game continue to grow.   

The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Playmakers Program will continue to expand and utilise its members to increase awareness and interest in women’s basketball, achieve increased fan engagement, and significantly increase the fan base for women’s basketball in Australia.

The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will be held from Thursday 22nd September to Saturday 1st October 2022 at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney, Australia. Competing nations include Australia, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, China, Canada, France, Japan, Korea, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Serbia, and reigning champions, the USA.

The international event is supported by the NSW Government through tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and the Office of Sport.

Australian profiles officially committed to the Playmakers Program include:

• Chris Anstey, former Australian Boomer

• Mark Beretta, Sunrise host

• Chloe Dalton, The Female Athlete Project Founder and AFLW player

• Renae Garlepp, former Australian Opal

• Andrew Gaze, formers Australian Boomer

• Shyla Heal, Australian Opal

• Jo Healy, basketball presenter

• Alyssa Healy, Australian cricketer

• Gail Henderson, former WNBL Champion

• Megan Hustwaite, basketball journalist

• Lauren Jackson, former Australian Opal and basketball great

• Annie La Fleur, former Australian Opal

• Ezi Magbegor, Australian Opal

• Robyn Maher, former Australian Opal 

• Erin Phillips, former Australian Opal and AFLW star

• Rachael Sporn, former Australian Opal

• Michele Timms, former Australian Opal and basketball great

• Tones & I, musician

The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 is FIBA’s flagship women’s competition and one of the most prestigious competitions in international basketball. The world's best players from 12 of basketball’s powerhouse nations across Africa, Americas, Asia & Oceania and Europe will descend on Sydney Olympic Park for 38 games to be played across 10 days from 22nd September 22 to 1st October 2022.

The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 is supported by the NSW Government through tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and the Office of Sport.

Image: To progressively increase the impact of the Playmakers Program, Jackson and Timms helped host a Playmakers Party last night at a basketball warehouse, AUSA Facility in Sydney (from left) Playmakers Lauren Jackson, Michele Timms and Rachel Maaenpar