May 19, 2025
Sydney’s Future Flames proof of concept for WNBL CBA’s investment in development
WNBL's increase to development player contracts may already be a proven success.
The WNBL’s new CBA was a welcome sign of investment for basketball fans throughout Australia. Among many changes, there were seismic increases to minimum and development player contracts. This should be encouraging to WNBL teams and young Australian basketball players alike, as development roster spots have come under scrutiny in the past.
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WNBL CEO Jennie Sager shared her vision with The Next on the recently announced CBA: “Our goal is to position the WNBL as a global leader in women’s sport and our recently announced Collective Bargaining Agreement is a significant step in the right direction – one that not only secures the future of the league but also lays a strong and sustainable foundation for our athletes to thrive.”
The WNBL has been a successful basketball league for over four decades and has been crucial in Australia becoming one of the worlds best basketballing nations. It hasn’t just established local talent as stalwarts of the national team, it’s attracted a long list of WNBA stars. This goes both ways, with some Australian WNBA stars getting their start in the WNBL
The ecosystem for basketball in Australia is typified by the Opals, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. This is achieved with investment on a domestic scale, as Sager told The Next: “There is important work ahead as we elevate the WNBL into the platform our players, clubs and fans truly deserve – one that proudly signals to every young girl picking up a basketball that there is a future here.”
Sydney Flames assistant coach Renae Garlepp has been critical in leading the Future Flames program. She’s a two time WNBL champion, one time Finals MVP and was Rookie of the Year in 2005. She also won the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Junior Athlete of the Year in 2006. She’s one of Australia’s most credentialed people when it comes to development and its importance to success throughout a player’s career.
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She told The Next that the Future Flames were “not just a tick-the-box program,” but “an environment that feels high-level but also personal. The connection between staff and athletes, and the alignment with the Sydney Flames, has made it real — you can see the pathway right in front of you.”
On the programs crucial elements, Garlepp shared with The Next: “Clarity of purpose and the people involved. Everyone bought in to making this a genuine stepping stone.”
As for the motivation in starting the Future Flames program, Garlepp lended her insight with The Next: “The motivation was simple — to bridge the gap. NSW produces so much young talent, but after the junior pathway, there wasn’t enough support to help them take the next step. We wanted to create something that mirrored the demands of a professional environment while still nurturing development.”
The NBL1 has bridged the gap between local and professional basketball in all of its leagues throughout Australia. It also binds and standardises each state’s league to a national framework. A development squad set up as an arm of a WNBL team enhances the health of this overarching system. It strengthens the connection between elite basketball players and experience with a professional basketball team.
Bonnie Deas just finished her rookie season with the Sydney Flames. She was on the Future Flames roster for HoopsFest but it clashed with her college visits, of which she has recently committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks. She was one of four Future Flames members that ended up getting court time with the Sydney Flames and endorsed the development program on a recent episode of The W Basketball Show:
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“We had a few girls that were in that team. They were our training players and then Carla [Pitman] and Caitlyn [Martin] were part of our team. So we got to see and train with them a lot and they’re all really talented players. It was pretty cool that Sydney have a Future Flames program to train with the [Sydney] Flames, I think it’s really cool that they’re doing that.”
Deas, Pitman, Martin and Piper Anderson all provided rotational minutes throughout Sydney’s season, with Deas and Pitman being starters at certain points. This was en route to clinching a postseason berth, before losing in the first round to a dominant Bendigo Spirit. The experience throughout the season, including valuable lessons from some of the Spirit’s stars like Sami Whitcomb and Veronica Burton, couldn’t have been made possible without being Future Flames.
Garlepp was selected as the head coach for the Australian Gems Under 19 World Cup team in Czechia, with Bonnie being selected as a player. The two will continue to build the chemistry and success of the Future Flames.
As for the WNBL’s new CBA, there will be a 104% increase to minimum contracts and a 314% increase to development player minimum contracts. This should not only raise the level and attract greater talent, but motivate teams to invest more time, resources and be more intentional with development programs. What Sydney has done has been an unmitigated success and the passion for ushering along young basketball talent is rife throughout Australia.
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The WNBL’s new ownership group raised the bar for investment and support from a league and team level. There is a strong foundation set over the next few years with accountability and stability demanded from the league and its teams. An importance on development beginning next season could pay dividends before the end of the active CBA, in three years time.
Sager told The Next that the WNBL was “working closely with clubs and players to take women’s basketball to new heights both on and off the court.” Some of these new heights may be in development programs that have already been proven.
Sydney has had success with their program and are now a gold standard. The Future Flames have attracted young talent and raised their play to international selection. It has shown the country they have the right coaches and leaders in place. The investment now will set an internal standard for the present and the future, excelling in both depth and talent. Sydney’s program already places them ahead of the league and other teams would be wise to follow suit before falling too far behind the pack.
