nding the meagre $100,000 award for the minor premiership, the NRL on Th

Long acknowledged as one of the best womens basketball leagues in the world, the WNBL is feeling the heat as season 36 tips off.With no television deal tabled for the second season running -- and at least ten local stars not appearing in the domestic competition this year -- the WNBL looks at first glance, to be on shaky ground.Newly appointed Head of the league, Sally Phillips, has barely had time to get her feet under her desk since taking up her post at the end of August but is optimistic about returning Australias longest running elite womens national competition to the top of the pile.With more than 25 years of basketball experience both on and off the court, Phillips is aware the challenge is manifold, given the rise of netball, AFL, cricket and football in the competition for womens sport sponsorship dollars, exposure, eyeballs and even playing talent.However despite off-court concerns and the retirement of drawcards such as Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor, the competition on-court is set to be tighter than ever and the opportunity is ripe for the next generation to announce themselves.Last seasons grand final combatants Townsville Fire and Perth Lynx look to be early favourites, but while the Fire are gunning for a third consecutive title in season 2016/17, the Lynx have high hopes of bringing the trophy back to the West for the first time since a Tom Maher coached side beat Dandenong in 1992 (as the Perth Breakers) to win the Citys sole title.Andy Stewart has a classy cast at his disposal with four US born players in the ranks. Monica Wright, Ruth Hamblin, Kisha Lee and reigning club MVP Sami Whitcomb are set to light up the Bendat Basketball Centre and even with the departure of Louella Tomlinson to Spain and the loss of Tessa Lavey to injury for the opening weeks, with Olympian Nat Burton and the promising Carley Mijovic, back in Perth colours the Lynx will be hard to stop.Up north, the rookie talent in the Townsville Fire side is Head Coach Claudia Brassard who will be hoping to start her WNBL time with a title. Last seasons MVP Suzy Batkovic will be raring to go after inexplicably missing Opals selection for Rio and with the likes of Micaela Cocks, Darcee Garbin and Mia Murray suiting up once more for the Fire, joined by Washington Mystics Natasha Cloud and fellow American Amy Kame there is plenty of firepower for Brassard to work with.Brassards predecessor, Chris Lucas has shifted south to head up the Adelaide Lightning coaching staff. The return of four-time Olympian Laura Hodges from France is a boon for this side and the addition of Samantha Logic from San Antonio Stars to the roster means Lucas has strong on-court leadership with solid basketball IQs as the side starts its rebuilding campaign. This may take time and with his focus on retaining local talent, Lucas might be missing some of the biggest names of South Australian basketball such as Abby Bishop and Steph Talbot but having Lightning and Opals legend Racheal Sporn heading up the clubs new academy program the future in SA looks very bright indeed.A big loss for the Adelaide side was the departure of All-Star playmaker Leilani Mitchell. It will be new Sydney coach Cheryl Chambers who will reap the benefits that Mitchell brings to the Flames out on the floor. If the diminutive point guard is on one end of the height spectrum, the reach of 201cm import Jennifer Hamson should be easy to pick out inside the paint. Add Belinda Snell, Sarah Graham and Conneticut Suns Asia Taylor to the mix the Flames boast a wealth of experience in their hunt to break a 15 year title drought.While its more of a dry spell than a drought its hard to believe that only three years ago Bendigo Spirit completed back to back title wins in sensational fashion. MVP on both occasions was Kelsey Griffin who returns this year as an Australian. The import spots now belong to Blake Dietrich (Seattle Storm) and Canadas Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe and when combined with the talents of evergreen Bendigo legend Gabe Richards the right on-court chemistry could signal the start of another run for the Spirit.Canberra Capitals are another side hoping for brighter prospects this season and new coach Paul Gorriss will be delighted at Mariana Tolos return from the WNBA. Tolo will be an important figure in the Caps resurgence alongside imports Jazmon Gwathmey and Micaela Ruef who suits up for her 3rd WNBL franchise in 3 years (after stints at Adelaide and Sydney). The Canberra side have a host of fresh faces after the retirement of Jess Bibby, Lauren Jackson and Hanna Zavecz as well as the departure of Abby Bishop, Steph Talbot, Renee Montgomery overseas and Rosie Fadljevic to the Rangers.In contrast, Fadljevic joins a fairly settled Dandenong unit with Ally Mallot and Natalie Novosel the other additions to the roster. Steph Cumming , Sara Blicavs, , Aimee Clydesdale, Jacinta Kennedy are all back for the Rangers and will be the experienced heads the coach Larissa Anderson hopes will take this side one better than last seasons semi- final finish.For the Melbourne Boomers anything would be better than last seasons finish. After a year destroyed by injuries in 15-16, Guy Molloy should certainly feel that things can only get better. New American import Chante Black will be a strong presence in the key, Bec Cole is back from injury, the influential Alice Kunek suits up again while Maddie Garrick was a beneficiary of the injury list last season, gaining important experience. Young gun Monique Conti debuts for a Rangers outfit looking to build a once more mighty franchise.As with each new season, before a ball is bounced its anyones to win. However if the league can continue to be entertaining as well as competitive and continue to draw increasing live spectator support as they have in the last two years, surely a return to the small screen must follow -- and that would be a win for everyone. Danny Rose Hotspur Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Custom Hotspur Jerseys .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http://www.footballhotspurstore.com/Women-Lucas-Moura-Tottenham-Hotspur-Jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Lucas Moura Jersey . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Michel Vorm Jersey . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. The NRL has hit back at claims it doesnt offer enough prizemoney for teams in the finals series.As the debate continues surrounding the meagre $100,000 award for the minor premiership, the NRL on Thursday moved to debunk claims that the only additional prizemoney on offer was the $400,000 given to the premiers.Up to $2.5 million in prizemoney and incentives will be up for grabs in the NRL finals series which begins next week, they said in a statement.This includes $1 million in prizemoney, rising from $20,000 for a first week finals loser through to $400,000 for the grand final winner.Along with the $20,000 given to the first two teams eliminated, $30,000 is given to those outed in the second week, $100,000 in the third week and $200,000 to the grand final losers..dddddddddddd.In comparison, the AFL offer $71,000, $110,000, $330,000 respectively for first, second and third-week losers, before $660,000 is given to the runners-up and $1.2 million to the premiers.No minor premiership prize money is awarded by the AFL.The NRL also said a pool $1.5 million was available to clubs in corporate hospitality and cash incentives for reaching gate and attendance targets throughout the finals.The NRLs insistence comes after Melbourne co-owner Matthew Tripp labelled the $100,000 prize to minor premiers as embarrassing on Wednesday, ahead of the deciding clash between the Storm and Cronulla on Saturday night. 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