KEY POINTS:
The Christchurch-based Sirens women's basketball franchise may be out of the Australian league (WNBL), after a single season.
The team is short $600,000 it needs to operate next season.
In an effort to keep a team in the WNBL, Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) is now looking to another province to take over the mantle, The Press reported.
BBNZ national teams manager Grant Chapman said Wellington Saints general manager Nick Mills had been approached last week about setting up the franchise in Wellington and he was "mulling over" the decision.
Mills told The Dominion Post yesterday he would have accepted the offer if it had come earlier, but with the Australian league starting in less than two months it was a big ask.
When the franchise was established last year it was under a three-year licence from Basketball Australia.
The team were unable to gain a main sponsor during a season in which Canterbury Basketball racked up a $305,000 deficit.
Fortunately the Sirens franchise managed to pay all its debts meaning any new operators would not be saddled with extra financial baggage.
Mills said he was consulting with Wellington City Council, Saints sponsors and potential backers to see if there could be a future for the team in the capital.
- NZPA
