Launceston Tornadoes' Reaffirm Commitment to Statewide NBL1 Presence
The See Eyecare Launceston Tornadoes' Reaffirm Commitment to Statewide NBL1 Presence
Since 1993, our club, the Launceston Tornadoes, has been the driving force behind women’s basketball in Tasmania, and that shouldn’t change. From a national championship to featuring Opals and WNBL players, we’ve consistently delivered elite basketball in Northern Tasmania while creating pathways for the next generation of Tasmanian talent.
As many in the basketball community are aware, a major structural shift with respect to the NBL1 competition in Northern Tasmania is on the immediate horizon. When the NBL1 competition launched in 2018, Basketball Victoria, being the entity that administers and manages the NBL1 South, made it clear that eventually each licence in the NBL1 South would be granted to a single organisation that would consist of one women's and one men’s team. Northern Tasmania was initially granted an exemption that saw the Launceston Tornadoes and North West Thunder compete as separate entities under a joint licence, but that grandfathered arrangement will conclude at the end of the 2025 season. Aside from expressly requiring that the future licence holder be a single organisation and that all women's and men's games be played on the same night and at the same venue, Basketball Victoria have been unequivocal about the fact that they do not wish to dictate how the new arrangement is to outwardly look. For example, they would be content for each of the women's and men's teams to maintain their existing branding, should that be desirable. Basketball Victoria has now formally opened the licence application process for the 2026-2027 period, with applications for the future licence holder in Northern Tasmania due for submission on 18 July. A decision will then be made by Basketball Victoria on 6 August.
In light of recent public discussion on the topic, our club wishes to provide clarity on our position and intentions, which have at no point waivered.
In anticipation of the change, and over the last 24 months, our club attempted to enter into discussions with the Thunder both directly and indirectly in the interests of working together to establish one overarching organisation, who would be the future licence holder. Such an outcome would mean that no region loses out. History shows us that both regions have separately attempted to previously run both a men's and a women's program unsuccessfully, with the North West being unsuccessful on two occasions. So, logically, a combined effort now, with two successful and strong clubs working together, makes the most sense. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach a shared vision with the Thunder. The Thunder have made it clear that they do not believe it is financially or operationally viable to run a dual program across both Launceston and the North West, despite not engaging in any material discussions with us to explore potential ways to make it work or to test their perception/theory. Their Board has said that they will be making their own application for the licence to run both a men's and women's team out of the North West, on the basis that they're happy to take the gamble that they may not be the successful applicant, in which case the North West region would lose out entirely.
We wholeheartedly disagree with the Thunder's position.
Our club has been viably servicing and operating out of both the North and the North West for more than two years, and we see this upcoming structural change to the NBL1 as an opportunity rather than a challenge, that can be leveraged to better not only our club but also basketball as a whole throughout the North and North West of Tasmania.
We firmly believe that the future of elite basketball in Tasmania relies on a model that serves all three major regions in a meaningful way – Hobart, Launceston and the North West. That doesn't mean playing one or two games in one location and calling it 'done'. The strength of the NBL1 model is its connection to community, its development of local talent, and its ability to inspire the next generation of players. After all, that's why each of the NBL1 clubs in Tasmania receive public funding year after year. In our view, a dual-hub model across Launceston and the North West is not only demonstrably viable, but also essential. With the right partnerships and community engagement models, we believe this approach offers greater opportunity: stronger junior pathways, wider community impact, and more sponsorship opportunities. With reach across two key markets, there are more meaningful ways to activate and service our sponsor network year-round.
Given that we were unable to reach agreement with the Thunder, our club now has no choice but to submit a licence application to Basketball Victoria to operate our own men’s and women’s program. We intend to submit an application that pays tribute to the histories and legacies of each existing club, delivered across the North and North West. Maintaining a strong presence in the North West is not just the right thing to do, it is important for the sport’s longterm success in Tasmania.
We want to be clear: the Thunder have played a crucial role in providing a pathway program for young men in the North West of Tasmania. We deeply respect that.
We equally want to acknowledge the unique challenges and importance of running a stand alone women’s program up until this point. It has taken real work, real investment, and real commitment. Thank you to every single person and organisation who has played a part in that; you are a piece of the makeup of our club. Everyone should be proud of our track record in this space and those of today remain deeply committed to continuing to lead the way in supporting women’s high-performance basketball in Tasmania.
Looking forward, as we prepare our licence application, we are focused on presenting a sustainable, inclusive, and community-driven vision. One that reflects the full breadth of basketball in the North and the North West at this level, and builds a stronger future for the sport we all love. We are confident in our ability to put forward a compelling licence application, having regard to our club's current stability across the key pillars of finances, operations, governance, and community engagement.
We encourage all clubs, associations, and community stakeholders across the North and the North West to reach out and work with us. This is a pivotal moment for basketball in our two regions and we believe that by coming together, we can create something that not only meets the requirements of the League, but reflects the passion and potential of our basketball community in the North and the North West.
We also call on the broader community to show your support for our club, whether that is by sharing your voice on social media, emailing your local government representatives, or simply showing up at our next home game on July 5th at Elphin Sports Centre.
See Eyecare Launceston Tornadoes Board
Media Enquiries:
All media enquiries can be directed to Madi Shepherd, Vice Chair at vicechair@tornadoes.com.au