Gold Rush to play four home games

Justin Ludlow.
Justin Ludlow.
Four home games will headline the Otago Rush's title defence this season.

After an opening weekend tournament in Christchurch, it will host its first match against the Waikato Wizards on Sunday, May 19 at the Edgar Centre.

That will be a rematch of last year's Women's Basketball Championship final, which the Gold Rush won at the same venue.

Three away games follow, before consecutive home games against Auckland Dream, Canterbury Wildcats and North Harbour Breeze on June 15, June 22 and June 30.

The finals tournament will be held on Auckland's North Shore on July 5-6.

Four home games is an increase from last year's two in the regular season and three the year before.

Prior to that, the WBC had been tournament-based right through, meaning the side rarely played at home.

Giving the Gold Rush more exposure at home is something with which Basketball Otago general manager Justin Ludlow is thrilled.

"Just to get the team in front of the young girls and families," he said.

"There's a lot of young girls now starting to play basketball, which is fantastic.

"We want to show the team there's a genuine pathway to women's national league."

He hopes to attract big crowds to the games, building on the momentum created during last year's home games.

The WBC is being played under a new format this year. Six teams will play in the top-tier competition, with a more competitive second tier.

Each team will play each other twice before the finals weekend.

The Gold Rush will play a pre-season match against against South Canterbury in Timaru on May 5.

 

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