Former Footballer Sally Shipard Laments W-League, WNBL Losing TV Coverage

Former Australian women's national team footballer Sally Shipard admitted it is "hard to really contemplate" the prospect of women's football and basketball "not having exposure on national television," according to Lee Gaskin of the CANBERRA TIMES. The ABC will stop broadcasting both the W-League and the Women's National Basketball League "at the end of their respective seasons because of budget cuts." Football Australia and Basketball Australia are "both investigating possible broadcasters to take over for next season." Shipard hoped a compromise "could be found." She said, "There will be an uproar. For us to display our skill and our level of talent to Australia via the means of TV is a really good way for the sport to grow. It's a really backward step for both basketball and women's soccer in general" (CANBERRA TIMES, 12/10).