The three summer national league teams, Canberra United, Canberra Capitals and ACT Meteors have vowed to work together and support each other this summer in a bid to promote women’s participation in sport.
The three summer national league teams, Canberra United, Canberra Capitals and ACT Meteors have vowed to work together and support each other this summer in a bid to promote women-s participation in sport.
The three teams joined together on Wednesday afternoon to launch what will be Canberra-s biggest summer of elite female sport with the Westfield W-League, WNBL and National Women-s Cricket League being played in the national capital.
“We are going to do a lot more together and the three clubs have been communicating on how we can use this for our advantage, women in sport, particularly in Canberra,” Canberra Capital-s Tracey Beatty said.
With the Capital-s winning last year-s WNBL and Canberra United contesting the Grand Final in their inaugural year, the ACT Meteors will be looking to draw on the other club-s successes as they prepare for their first season in the competition.
“We’re not there just to make up the numbers, I think we will be very competitive and I think if we can get off to a flying start against Tasmania in three weeks time then we will set ourselves up for a very good season,” Meteors captain Kris Britt said.
“I think creating a pathway for women’s sport, not just cricket, but also soccer and basketball, I think there is an opportunity to play those sports at an elite level in Canberra and I think it-s the best opportunity I’ve ever been involved with.”
One thing is for certain, the three teams will certainly enjoy plenty of vocal support at home games whenever possible from the other teams.
“We are looking to get along to all their games and were hoping the girls can come along to ours and boost our crowd numbers and just get that local support,” Canberra United-s Grace Gill said.
As for the possibility of all three teams winning their respective league, past form is showing that it-s not out of the question.
“I think we are all very competitive teams and the fact that the Capitals did so well, and we did so well last year as well, it’s just so advantageous to our profile and women-s sport”
Both the Canberra Capitals and Canberra United begin their 2009 seasons in the WNBL and Westfield W-League respectively with grand final rematches this weekend while the ACT Meteors face their first ball in the WNCL on October 23rd at Manuka Oval.
