Tasmania Jewels

Tasmania Jewels
Tasmania Jewels logo
LeagueWNBL
Founded2025
ArenaMyState Bank Arena
Silverdome
Devonport Oval Sports Complex
Capacity4,800
LocationHobart, Tasmania
Team coloursBurnham green, eucalyptus green, yellow
     
CEOTrent Jacobs[1]
ChairmanSteve Old
General managerKayla Steindl (assistant GM)[2]
Head coachClaudia Brassard
OwnershipAltor Capital (majority owner)
Websitetasmaniajewels.com.au

The Tasmania Jewels are an Australian professional basketball team based in Hobart, Tasmania, who will enter the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in 2026.[3][4]

The Jewels will be the first Tasmanian WNBL team since the Hobart Islanders, who last played in 1996.[5]

History

In August 2025, the WNBL awarded Tasmania the ninth license, with the league expanding to nine teams for the 2026–27 season.[5] On 1 December 2025, the club unveiled the team name of Tasmania Jewels, with the term jewel being a direct link to the queen ant and thus being a counterpart to the men's team, the Tasmania JackJumpers.[6] On 2 March 2026, the Jewels announced that Claudia Brassard would be the team's inaugural head coach.[7]

Foundation signings

Ahead of the club's inaugural WNBL season in 2026–27, the Tasmania Jewels secured Australian Opals point guard Steph Reid as the first player in franchise history[8]. Reid returned to Australia after playing for Sopron Basket in Hungary, bringing WNBL championship experience after winning the 2022–23 title with the Townsville Fire. Days later, the Jewels announced Gianna Kneepkens as the club's first international signing. The American guard joined Tasmania after helping UCLA win the 2026 NCAA Women's National Championship[9] and being selected by the Connecticut Sun in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Kneepkens finished her five-year NCAA career as one of college basketball's most efficient shooters, converting 49.5% of her field goals, 43.1% of her three-point attempts and 87.0% of her free throws, with Reid and Kneepkens forming the foundation of the Jewels' inaugural backcourt.

References

  1. ↑ "Tasmania JackJumpers appoint new CEO". nbl.com.au. 10 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  2. ↑ "Jewels unveil WNBA star Smith as club ambassador". wnbl.com.au. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "JackJumpers to court women's team as Tasmania secures WNBL licence". Pulse Tasmania. 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Tasmania wins 'powerful' sports franchise licence, urge for Northern upgrades". The Examiner. 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  5. 1 2 "WNBL EXPANDS TO NINE TEAMS WITH NEW TASMANIAN CLUB". WNBL. 19 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Tasmania Jewels to shine in the WNBL from 2026". tasmaniajewels.com.au. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  7. ↑ Hustwaite, Megan (2 March 2026). "Tasmania Jewels unveil inaugural WNBL head coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Homecoming queen is Jewel in Tassie crown | Basketball.com.au". www.basketball.com.au. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Tasmania's newest Jewel can flat-out shoot the ball | Basketball.com.au". www.basketball.com.au. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
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