National TV coverage of women’s sports in Australia "will be devastated by cuts in ABC funding," with the Women's National Basketball League and football’s W-League to be abandoned next year, according to Nagy & Migliaccio of the COURIER MAIL. Coverage of the WNBL "will conclude with the finals in February while W-League coverage will end with its grand final next month." Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore confirmed that "the WNBL, arguably the best women’s basketball league in the world after the WNBA" in the U.S., would continue on the national broadcaster through to the end of the '14-15 season. Moore: “The ABC is getting out of all live sport but ours (WNBL coverage) is good until the end of the season" (COURIER MAIL, 11/24). In Melbourne, Ward & Tuxworth wrote Australian basketballer Lauren Jackson called televised women's sport a "sacrificial lamb" after the ABC culled its WNBL and W-League coverage as part of forced budget cuts. Key women's basketball figures believe that "it could rob the league of sponsors and star players." The Gold Medal hopes of the No. 2-ranked Australian Opals at the Rio Olympics "will also take a hit if most of the squad are unable to play in the WNBL next season." Jackson said, "When I heard about the cut it was obvious something would have to go, of course women's sport is the sacrificial lamb. It's a huge shame and I hope it doesn't end up being the case because ABC has been such a huge supporter of women's sport. I would say it's a very dark day for women's sport. It's a huge mistake I believe" (THE AGE, 11/24). The AAP reported Australia’s peak women’s sporting body fears that "young female athletes will be left without role models due to cuts." Australian Womensport and Recreation Association Exec Officer Leanne Evans said that "taking the two leagues off the air would leave a gaping hole." Evans: “You’d struggle to find much at all in terms of women’s sport on television. It’d be a massive disappointment for those athletes, teams and people who support it.” An ABC statement outlined an “overhaul” of its sport coverage. The statement said, “With the ABC facing declining audience interest in local sport competitions and some codes chasing commercial opportunities, ABC Television is revising its sports strategy to ensure the most cost-efficient use of resources and optimal audience impact" (AAP, 11/24).
