The WNBL has unveiled Beyond the WNBL, a powerful new four-part docuseries premiering at screenings across Australia and now available globally on YouTube. This first-of-its-kind series takes fans inside the lives, pressures and passions of the athletes driving one of the world’s premier women’s basketball leagues.
Created by Emmy-nominated director and founder of The Empire Agency, executive producer Shauna Keogh (best known for The Matildas: World At Our Feet), and WNBL co-owner Victoria Denholm, Beyond the WNBL showcases the women transforming Australian basketball and elevating the sport on the world stage.
“Our players and their stories have been the best-kept secrets in Australian sport for too long. These episodes are an opportunity to broadcast these stories to the world and get to know them on and off the court,” Denholm said.
The series follows four of the league’s most compelling talents who are also Olympians, WNBA stars, and homegrown heroes: Cayla George, the veteran leader whose influence resonates across generations, Jade Melbourne, the fearless rising star lighting up courts at home and overseas, Nyadiew Puoch, a young phenom redefining what’s possible, and Shaneice Swain, whose breakthrough season reflects determination, resilience and pure grit.
Keogh said the project began more than a year ago, when she approached the league’s new ownership with a vision to bring these stories to life.
“I’ve spent my career telling stories that put women in sport at the centre. From the very first meeting with Victoria Denholm, the new ownership group and WNBL CEO Jennie Sager, it was clear we shared a vision for what this league and its athletes deserve.
“The athletes and clubs were so generous with their time, opening their doors and their lives to us it’s not easy to be that vulnerable in front of a camera. Seeing female athletes on screen shows girls and women that sport is a real career path, builds powerful role models and drives the visibility and investment needed to grow the game.
“I’m incredibly grateful to have helped bring that to life through The Empire Agency in partnership with the WNBL and hope as many people as possible get to see it.”
More than a behind-the-scenes look, Beyond the WNBL reveals the human side of elite sport—showing players as leaders, teammates, daughters, mothers, community heroes and role models.
WNBL CEO Jennie Sager said the series marks a defining milestone in the league’s commitment to storytelling and media investment.
“We’re thrilled to share Beyond the WNBL with audiences everywhere,” she said. “This series reflects our determination to amplify our athletes, to innovate, and to tell bold stories that cut through. I can’t wait to shine the light on everyone in the league and finally share their personal journeys and interests in a fun and entertaining way that rewards our fans and reaches new ones.”
Denholm added, “This is only the beginning. These women represent communities from North Queensland to regional Victoria, South Australia and metropolitan Melbourne. Their stories reflect the heartbeat of Australian basketball. By telling them, we hope to inspire fans across the country and celebrate the strength, talent and determination that defines our league.”
In partnership with Google, all four episodes of Beyond the WNBL are streaming worldwide on the WNBL YouTube channel, website and app.
