Basketball On The Internet.

PAST and present WNBL stars today delivered a petition with close to 5,000 signatures for the ABC to reverse its budget cut-driven decision to cease televising live sport.

Former AIS, Canberra, Perth, Bulleen and Adelaide forward Caroyln Watts - who initiated the petition on GetUp's CommunityRun site and arranged its simultaneous delivery around Australia - led the Melbourne contingent which also included Trish Fallon, Sandra Tomlinson, Alison Tranquilli and Kate Stacker.

In Adelaide, Marina Wood (nee Moffa) was joined by Lightning captain Laura Hodges.

“The ABC’s been a broadcast partner with the WNBL for three decades," Watts said.

"It’s allowed our league to build a huge supporter base across the nation to watch and follow this great competition.

“This petition demonstrates the disappointment shared by many Australians who have witnessed a long-term partner throw in the towel as soon as times got tough.

“The WNBL has such a long and proud history in Australian sport. The ABC shouldn’t cut the WNBL and rob Australians who follow this great competition.”

Four generations of Australian Olympic captains - Jenny Cheesman, Michele Timms, Rachael Sporn and Lauren Jackson - have signed the petition.

“It’s crunch time - we want the ABC to change its mind," Jackson said.

"Surely there is an alternative option that doesn’t have the same far-reaching impacts to women, sport and health?"

REACHING OUT: Lauren Jackson is reaching out to the ABC to reconsider.

Timms, also a past Olympic captain, International Women’s Player of the Year and the first player at the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury to have her uniform number (#7) retired, is extremely concerned.

“This great game needs live broadcasting and the community wants live broadcasting," she said

"(There were) 37,000 viewers last week alone.  It’s shocking that the ABC would do this when the league has never been stronger.”

NO TIMMSY WHIMSY: Michele Timms is a superstar on several continents.

CommunityRun is a platform powered by GetUp that allows people to start, run and deliver their own campaigns on just about anything.

The WNBL petition can be found here if you wish to add your name. It's never too late: https://www.communityrun.org/petitions/keep-australian-womens-basketball-league-on-the-abc