Tasmania’s newest basketball team has unveiled its official mascot ahead of its debut season, with the Jewels introducing Queenie the Queen Ant.
The character is described as fun, sassy and passionate about basketball, with a mission to inspire every young fan she meets.
Queenie will visit schools, clinics and fans across the state in the lead-up to the Jewels’ first ever WNBL game in Hobart on October 15.
Jewels coach Claudia Brassard said Queenie represented everything the new team stood for.
“The Queen Ant is a leader, she’s strong, confident and unites everyone and that’s exactly what the Jewels are all about,” Brassard said.
“We have an incredible team of players who are here to win and defend the island with humility and authenticity.”
Brassard said the mascot would help boost the visibility and value of women and girls in sport, “leaving a glittering ant trail of inspiration and aspiration wherever she goes.”
Jewels and JackJumpers head of community Fran Lockhart said having Queenie join JackJumpers mascot Jack the Jumper was an important milestone for the club.
“Kids are going to go wild for Queenie,” Lockhart said.
“She’s sassy, fun, confident and the best hype-girl.”
Lockhart said Jack the Jumper had become an icon since the JackJumpers started in 2021, with kids loving him just as much as the players.
“It’s definitely going to be double the trouble to have Queenie join Jack, but together they have such an incredible ability to make fans happy and inspire kids to have fun and be active,” she said.
The mascot’s school visits will add to more than 500 school visits and over 1,000 clinics the club has run over the past five years.
The Jewels’ first game is scheduled for October 15 at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart, with the first Launceston Silverdome fixture on October 31.
