Australian basketball's NBL (men's) and WNBL (women's) competitions have both entered into a major new commercial tie-up with domestic telecoms giant Optus.
A multi-year agreement to that effect – covering both the 10-team NBL and the nine-team WNBL – was unveiled earlier today.
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Both parties have said the deal is based on "connecting fans to the moments that matter."
It has been reported that Optus will receive assets including prominent on-court signage, digital content features, and fan activations on matchdays.
The 2025-26 NBL and WNBL seasons both finished up in early April.
David Stevenson, chief executive (CEO) at NBL Group, has said: "Basketball in Australia is experiencing incredible momentum, and this partnership with Optus comes at an exciting time for both the NBL and WNBL.
“We are building leagues that are deeply connected to fans and communities, while continuing to expand the reach and impact of basketball across the country."
In terms of NBL and WNBL recent commercial activity, late May saw both leagues unveil an agreement with the Virgin Australia airline.
That company now becomes the domestic airline partner of both competitions.
Stephen Rue, CEO at Optus, added: "Basketball has become one of the most exciting and culturally relevant sports in Australia, with incredible momentum at both a community and professional level.
“This partnership with the NBL and WNBL is about connecting fans to the moments that matter, supporting the communities where the game is played, and helping Australian basketball continue to grow – on and off the court.”
Optus, up until mid-2025, had been a significant sports broadcaster in Australia for several years, before exiting the market completely as it attempted to consolidate its core telco business.
In late April, the NBL announced a two-year, free-to-air deal with Australian commercial broadcaster Nine Network.
