The Boomers will play the Bendigo Spirt in Traralgon and Sale, on top of an annual match in Warragul.

The deal will also include training sessions, junior clinics and coaching classes across the region, benefiting local students and players across the entire community.

The WNBL is Australia’s top women’s basketball competition and is recognised as the second-best league in the world. These games will grow its fanbase in the Valley and inspire more kids to hit the court.

The two-year partnership is part of the Victorian Government’s $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative, which is building new sporting infrastructure and bringing the best sporting events to the region.

An extra $2 million will also be provided to help Regional Tourism Boards and Councils boost their local economies and jobs by attracting new visitors and new events.

The Victorian Government has already supported more than 160 events across regional Victoria – and our new Regional Events and Innovation Fund will grow that number.

New funding will also be made available to regional event organisers, sporting associations, venues and local councils to help kick-start their bid to host more national or international sporting events.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 invests $17.7 million for the Significant Sporting Events Program – which supported more than 75 events last year alone – including the NBL Blitz in the Latrobe Valley, the AGL Loy Yang Traralgon International Tennis Tournament and the Trans-Tasman Archery event in Morwell last month.