Leeanne Grantham was named in the 1984 Olympic squad, but Basketball Australia’s policy of preventing athletes from travelling with young children forced her withdrawal following the birth of her daughter.
After finishing her playing career across SA and Victoria, Leeanne Grantham transitioned smoothly into broadcasting as the lead colour commentator for the television coverage of the FIBA Women’s World Championships hosted in Australia in 1994.
A combination of authoritative communication skills and an understanding of the high-performance athlete were recognised as important qualities to lead the sport for women in Australia.
In 1995 she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the WNBL.
Just two years after taking the reins, Leeanne Granthan, the young woman from the small SA Riverland town of Paringa and who had moved to Melbourne to progress her professional career, was chosen as the 1997 Victorian Telstra Businesswoman of the Year.
In no small part, this was due to Grantham’s ambitious and focused leadership in securing live weekly televised WNBL games on the ABC, plus the live broadcast of the 1994 Women’s World Championships hosted by Australia – including Adelaide.
This quality of exposure brought in sponsorship at a level not seen in women’s basketball before. The WNBL was subsequently acknowledged as one of the leading women’s basketball leagues in the world.
Breaking new ground began to be customary for Grantham, becoming the first woman appointed to the Board of Basketball Australia, later and separately serving as Head of Delegation for the Opals.
Her leadership has since extended to senior executive roles across major events and professional sport, including CEO of the Adelaide 36ers, Major Events South Australia and the 2002 World Masters Games.
Leeanne Grantham served as Vice President of Commonwealth Games Australia and as a director with several other national sport Boards. In 2022, she joined the Board of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney.
Following major injury and other obstacles, Leeanne Grantham is a remarkable reflection of someone who created and optimised every opportunity to take a leadership role in sport and beyond.
Leeanne Grantham was awarded life membership of the WNBL in 2020.
