Basketball legend Lauren Jackson believes the WNBL's first expansion team in a decade is in for an "incredible" foundation season.
The Tasmania Jewels will become the WNBL's ninth franchise from the 2026/27 season, more than a decade after the league last expanded with the addition of the South East Queensland Stars in 2015.
Expansion sides the Stars, Logan Thunder and Christchurch Sirens have all been crushed by financial difficulties and forced to exit the league since the turn of the century.
But Jackson is hopeful for the Jewels, who have already signed Opals representatives Keely Froling, Steph Reid and Darcee Garbin to their inaugural roster.
"I think the Jewels are going to do incredible," Jackson told AAP.
"Going through the facilities that they've got ready for the athletes, the team that they're putting together. I think they're going to have a really great year.
