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WNBL betting guide: How to bet on women’s basketball
The WNBL or Women’s National Basketball League is the female professional basketball league in Australia. WNBL betting is available at all of the top online betting sites around the world, but is particularly prevalent at Australian online bookmakers. WNBL title odds are available all year round, while head to head betting, point scorers and even fouls betting are popular markets. WNBL betting sites are accessible via mobile and desktop computer, and while WNBL betting promotions are also available, they are not as abundant as other sports. Below you will learn about the craft of WNBL betting.
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Can you bet on the WNBL?
The Women’s National Basketball League or WNBL is the highest level of the sport for female players in Australia.
While it might not draw the crowds that the relaunched men’s competition now does, the WNBL offers plenty of opportunity for punters on the prowl for hidden value.
Betting on the WNBL is very popular at Australian bookmakers, while plenty of the USA’s finest betting sites also report taking plenty of wagers on this competition.
Most of the top WNBL betting sites also have betting apps available, with these free to download after you have create a new account at your chosen wagering operator.
It is true that there are not as many basketball bet types available on the WNBL, but this has improved greatly in recent times and we can see a time when they mirror those offered on the NBL.
To place a bet on the WNBL it is simply a matter of navigating to the basketball section at your chosen bookmaker and finding the league. You then find the markets you are looking for and make your selections.
To complete a bet on the WNBL you can then visit your bet slip and choose your denomination, with this process similar across all bookmakers accepting WNBL bets.
Best WNBL betting sites
BettingSite.com.au only recommends online bookmakers that tick all the boxes for product quality, online security, banking options, multi-platform convenience and customer service. Each of the bookies below is licensed and regulated in Australia, runs competitive odds across a wide range of markets, and offers registered customers all types of great hooks.
Neds
Australia’s favourite basketball bookmaker specialises in sports betting products for smartphone and tablet devices. The Neds mobile app on iOS and Android is ideal for basketball multi betting. Neds review.
Playup
PlayUp is a well-established Australian-owned online bookmaker with a good reputation among punters for its horse racing and sports betting. With great value on multis, Playup is a one-stop shop for the WNBL.
Bet365
If you want complete coverage of Australian women’s basketball, Bet365.com.au might be your best bet. Besides offering competitive odds on an enormous range of sports markets, the bookie also carries live streams of pro basketball from all over the globe. bet365 sits comfortably among the best WNBL betting sites in the world. bet365 review.
Top WNBL betting apps 2024
| Bookie | Android | iOS | Mobile Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neds | Download | Download | Visit |
| Playup | Download | Download | Visit |
| Bet365 | Download | Download | Visit |
| Unibet | Download | Download | Visit |
| Picklebet | Download | Download | Visit |
| Dabble | Download | Download | Visit |
| Boombet | Download | Download | Visit |
There are many great WNBL betting apps available in Australia, with most of the top basketball bookmakers having downloads available for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. The best WNBL betting apps are free to download and will give you access to everything you would find at the desktop version of their websites.
Downloading a WNBL betting app for Android is slightly different to the iOS versions. To get started open an account at your chosen WNBL betting site, then follow the prompts to download their app. Some betting apps can be downloaded directly from the bookmaker, although you will need to have non-market apps turned on.
WNBL betting apps for iOS smartphones and tablets can be downloaded directly from the App Store. Most bookmakers in Australia have got iOS betting apps available with these including brands like Ladbrokes, Neds and bet365.
All of the betting sites that have WNBL odds that we promote also have mobile websites, which does not require you to download any software.
How to bet on women’s basketball in Australia
New to online betting? Never fear, because it takes only minutes to create an account, deposit some money to the bookie and start punting. Every one of our top-ranked basketball bookies is optimised for PC, Mac and mobile, with browser sites and betting apps that run on iOS, Android, Windows Phone and most other operating systems.
- Sign up at a trusted bookie
Follow the links above to join one of our approved online bookmakers. Registration is free and takes only a moment. If you wish, you can take another minute or two to submit your ID verification – an essential step that must be completed within 45 days of sign-up. - Add some cash to your account
Deposit money into your betting balance using one of several safe and convenient online payment methods. Most sports bookies accept Visa, MasterCard, PayPal and BPay, while some also support alternatives such as Neteller, Skrill, Flexepin and Paysafecard. - Place your bets
Once you are signed up, logged in and cashed up, head to the ‘Basketball’ section in the sports betting menu and scroll down until you find the WNBA markets. Browse the games and futures options to find your selections, then add them to the bet slip, set your stakes and confirm. Leagues available to bet on at bookmakers include the WNBL, WNBA, NBA and international team events like the FIBA World Championships.
WNBL bet types
There are hundreds of different ways to have a flutter on the WNBL. These are a few of the most popular market types.
- Head-to-head betting
This is the simplest of all basketball bets. All you have to do is pick whichever team you think will win the match. - Line betting
For one-sided contests, line bets level out the odds so punters can enjoy better value when tipping the favourites. For example: if the Canberra Capitals are quoted at -12.5, they must win the match by at least 13 points; and if the Melbourne Boomers are +12.5, they must either win, draw, or lose by no more than 12 points. - Margin betting
Basketball matches offer a great variety of margin markets. Popular variants include big win/little win (e.g. Adelaide by 10 points or less), groups or clusters (e.g. Adelaide by 10-15 points) and exact margins (e.g. Adelaide by exactly 15 points). - Totals betting
These markets can cover anything from number of points in a match, to number of points in a quarter or half, to number of points scored by the home team or by the away team. They are usually quoted as over/under lines (e.g. over 213.5 total points), not unlike handicap bets. - Quarter and half betting
Any of the market types above can be altered to focus entirely on one of the four quarters or one of the two halves in a match. For example: rather than betting on the overall result of a Boomers vs. Rangers game, you can wager that Dandenong will win the second quarter. - Player props
In an age where statistics and fantasy sports reign supreme, the player performance options do a roaring trade. First basket scorer is one of the hottest markets in any game, while you can also bet on a player’s total points, total rebounds, total assists and more. - Multi bets
Also called a parlay, a multi bet combines several single wagers onto the one bet slip. For a multi to pay, each individual wager on the ticket must salute. For example: if you pick a three-leg multi with Adelaide, Canberra and Townsville all to win, the bet only pays out if all three of those tips come through. - Futures markets
Futures betting on basketball is not as common on the WNBL, as the NBL. These are long-ranging bets on outcomes that may not be resolved until several months after the wager is placed. Most future betting options open prior to the start of the season, covering markets such as the outright title winner, which teams will qualify for finals and which player will be crowned the league’s MVP.
Current WNBL teams
The Women’s National Basketball League was founded in 1981. The first 11 seasons were dominated by suburban Melbourne teams that are now long defunct, notably the St Kilda Saints (1981 and ’82 champions), Coburg Cougars (1985 champions) and Nunawading Spectres (six-time champs between 1983 and ’89). The current format features eight teams from six states and territories: three from Victoria and one each from the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
- Adelaide Lighting
Founded in 1993, the Lightning dominated the ’90s with four WNBL Championship wins between 1994 and 1998. Ever-present in those triumphs was Rachael Sporn – an eight-time league All-Star and two-time MVP who represented Australia at three Olympics. - Bendigo Spirit
The youngest of the WNBL franchises was created in 2007 and won back-to-back titles in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Notable past and present players include four-time Olympic medallist Kristi Harrower, dual Grand Final MVP Kelsey Griffin and Canadian international Chelsea Aubry. - Southside Flyers
Based in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, the Rangers were formed in 1992 and have regularly featured at the top end of the table. They had to wait until 2004 for their first title, however, and last won it in 2012. - Melbourne Boomers
The erstwhile Bulleen Boomers joined the comp in 1984 and changed their name to Melbourne in 2013. Despite a star-studded alumni that includes Michele Timms, Liz Cambage and Jenna O’Hea, the Boomers have only a single title to their name. They enjoy a healthy rivalry with Dandenong Rangers. - Perth Lynx
Perth joined the WNBL in 1988 as the Breakers and have enjoyed the services of several top-class talents over the years, including Robyn Maher, Tully Bevilaqua, Deanna Smith and Sami Whitcomb. Some rough years on and off the court since 2000 have prevented them from adding to their loan championship win in 1992. - Sydney Flames
The Flames have undergone more facelifts than the late Joan Rivers. They were the Bankstown Bruins (1981-88), the Sydney Bruins (1989-91), the Sydney Flames (1992-2000) and the Sydney Panthers (2000-03) before settling on Sydney Uni Flames in 2003. They have won four titles, including the 2017 WNBL Championship. - Townsville Fire
Queensland’s only active franchise joined the WNBL at the start of the millennium. Since 2010 the Fire have been among the strongest teams in the competition, highlighted by back-to-back title victories in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Former stars include Gina Stevens, Natalie Porter and Rohanee Cox. - Canberra Capitals
This is the team that Lauren Jackson built. Between 2000 and 2010, the Capitals won a league-record seven WNBL Championships. Jackson was MVP in four of those grand finals. Other notables include former Opals captain Jenny Cheesman, WNBA first-round draftee Kristen Veal and triple Olympic rep Shelley Gorman.
BettingSite.com.au’s WNBL hall of fame
WNBL betting is popular, but not as popular as some of the players have become over the years. WNBL players to feature in our Hall of Fame include:
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Jackson or LJ as fans know her, is arguably the best female basketball player of all time. A star in both the WNBL and the WNBA, Jackson’s size and athleticism made her unstoppable for many years. While injuries forced her into retirement, Jackson is in the midst of a comeback with the Albury-Wodonga Bandits, with a potential eye on a Opals comeback at the Olympics. At her peak, it was often mused, whether Jackson would be competitive against male players, highlighting just how dominant this force was.
Michelle Timms
Feisty Michelle Timms was the big name in female basketball in Australia in the 1990s. Timms shooting, running power and playmaking ability saw her dominate the WNBL for many years. Timms also made successful forays into the WNBA and was a star for the Opals
Penny Taylor
An absolute star of Australian basketball until her retirement in 2016, Taylor was one of the standout forwards globally. While Taylor was a mainstay of the great Opals teams, that pushed Team USA all the way, she shot to global stardom in the WNBA, winning three titles with the Phoenix Mercury. The one-two punch combination with Lauren Jackson when both were in the Opals teams was a highlight.