Expansion hit list: Coaches the WNBL's newest teams could target

• The WNBL has confirmed Tasmania will enter the league for the 2026-27 season
• EOI's have also been opened for the 10th franchise with Brisbane expected to be the location for another expansion club
• 2025-26 WNBL Team Lists and Roster Tracker

The WNBL has new ownership is in place, undergone a rebrand and two more teams are set to join the rejuvenated league by the 2026-27 season.

But who will steer the ship of these new franchises on the court?

With so many talented coaches around the country, basketball.com.au has decided to list the mentors we think could be the frontrunners to lead either Tasmania, or the 10th team, which is expected to be based in Brisbane.

From up and coming talents who have not yet had a crack at a head coach role in the WNBL, to experienced championship coaches, here are our nine names to keep an eye out on.

RENAE GARLEPP

The lead assistant coach for Guy Molloy's Sydney Flames, Renae Garlepp would arguably be the No.1 target on the WNBL coaching market, especially after leading the Aussie Gems to a silver medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup earlier this year.

Also had a long and decorated career in the WNBL, stretching across 12 seasons and two WNBL championships. Basketball.com.au hears Garlepp has already been identified as the next WNBL head coach in waiting.

CHERYL CHAMBERS

Can you go wrong with a three-time WNBL championship coach and three-time WNBL Coach of the Year? Probably not.

After her departure from the Southside Flyers, Chambers is the most experienced and arguably the most successful coach on the market. Her ability to win as well as attract high-profile players to her teams would be a big asset to any new WNBL franchise.

NAT HURST

The current New Zealand Tall Ferns coach had a brief stint with the Adelaide Lightning in her first WNBL head coach role and although the team didn't reach the heights she would have wanted, most coaches are better in their second time around.

Hurst is a legend of the WNBL, having won six championships with the Canberra Capitals - a team she is now an assistant coach for under Paul Gorris.

LARISSA ANDERSON

Already with four years of head coaching experience under her belt at the Dandenong Rangers, including taking the team to a grand final series against the Sydney Uni Flames in 2017, Larissa Anderson could make the jump back onto a WNBL sideline.

After more than a decade as a player in the WNBL, Anderson also helped the Rangers become a SEABL powerhouse, winning multiple championships as Dandenong's head coach. She coached the Rangers NBL1 South women's side for the 2025 season.

JOHN WHITE

Another coach who has been an assistant at both the WNBL and NBL levels, John White is coming off a season where he helped Kennedy Kereama's Bendigo Spirit claim the 2024-25 WNBL championship following an 18-3 regular season before going undefeated in the playoffs.

White was also an assistant coach for Larissa Anderson at the Dandenong Rangers and for Chris Anstey at the Melbourne Tigers.

CRAIG SIMPSON

The latest national championship coach in the NBL1 women's competition. Craig Simpson, who took over the Knox Raiders mid-season, helped his team beat two undefeated opponents to claim the NBL1 South title followed by the nationals in Canberra.

First they beat the favoured Geelong United before overcoming the Cockburn Cougars to help add a national title to the trophy cabinet at the Raiders.

MARCUS WONG

Another WNBL assistant coach with a wealth of experience and knowledge, currently Shannon Seebohm's deputy at the Townsville Fire where they won the 2023 championship.

Wong has also been an assistant coach at Adelaide and won several championships as a head coach at the state league level. He led the Cairns Dolphins to the semi-finals in the NBL1 North this past season.

KRISTEN VEAL

Like Hurst, Kristen Veal is a legend of the WNBL as a player and was part of several championships with the Canberra Capitals as Paul Gorris' assistant coach.

Veal, who has also been the head coach of the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence women's program in the past, is only two seasons out of being a head coach at the WNBL level and like Hurst, could benefit from a second chance on the sidelines.

DAVID HERBERT

Having last coached the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence women's program, Herbert was rumoured to be up for the vacant Adelaide Lightning job this offseason but missed out to Kerryn Mitchell.

But a coach with WNBL head coach experience, international coaching experience as well as years at the NBL1 level with several teams should be on any new team's list of mentors to consider.

(This list is in no particular order)