National Women Basketball League (NWBL)
SportBasketball
Founded2004 (in current format)
Inaugural season2005
No. of teams18
Country Nigeria
ContinentFIBA Africa (Africa)
Most recent
champion(s)		MFM Queens (1st title)
(2023)
Most titlesFirst Bank (9 titles)
Official websiteOfficial website

The National Women Basketball League, known as Zenith Women Basketball League for sponsorship reasons is the top-level women's basketball club competition in Nigeria. It is the women's version of Nigeria Premier League organized by the Nigeria Basketball Federation.[1] The league also determines the Nigerian representatives at FIBA Africa Women's Clubs Champions Cup.[2][3]

History

The league started with five teams, however the number grew to eighteen by 2017.[4] The league has been sponsored by Zenith Bank since 2004.[5] In 2017, after the expiration of the contract agreement between NBBF and Zenith Bank, the banking institution renewed the terms of the negotiation with bigger winning bonus for the teams.[4] The winner of the league receives a ₦30,000,000 prize money.[6] The league is criticized for being overly dominated by First Bank, First Deepwater and Dolphins.[7]

The league was suspended for 3 years after the 2019 season, the first two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2022 due to a disputed election within the Nigeria Basketball Federation.[8] The league resumed in August 2023,[9] with MFM Queens winning the title in late October.[10]

Players in the league are semi-pro, with most receiving a small stipend.[11]

Teams

The following are the eighteen teams that participate in the league:[12]

Team Location
First Deepwater Lagos
Nigeria Customs Lagos
Elephant Girls (aka First Bank) Lagos
Nigeria Immigration Abuja
AHIP Queens Kano
Benue Princess Makurdi
Coal City Angels Enugu
GT2000 Kaduna
Oluyole Babes Ibadan
IGP Queens Lagos
Plateau Rocks Plateau State
Delta Force Delta State
Dolphins Port Harcourt
Zamfara Babes Zamfara State
FCT Angels Abuja
Sunshine Angels Ondo State
Nasarawa Amazons Nasarawa State
Taraba Hurricanes Taraba State

List of winners

Year Winner Runnerup Ref
2023 MFM Queens Nigeria Customs [13]
2019 Air Warriors MFM Queens [14]
2018 First Bank First Deepwater [15]
2017 First Bank First Deepwater [16]
2016 First Bank Dolphins [17][6]
2015 Dolphins First Bank [18]
2014 First Bank Dolphins [15]
2013 First Deepwater Dolphins [15]
2012 First Deepwater First Bank [15]
2011 First Deepwater First Bank [19][20]
2010 First Deepwater First Bank [15]
2009 First Bank First Deepwater [15]
2008 First Bank Dolphins [15]
2007 First Bank Dolphins [15]
2006 First Bank Dolphins [15]
2005 First Bank Dolphins [15]

References

  1. ↑ "Nigeria Women Basketball: FCT Angels defeat Nasarawa Amazons". Premium Times. April 26, 2015. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  2. ↑ Edward, Johnny (August 2, 2017). "Basketball: First Bank Coach Ahmedu Targets Women's Africa Champions Cup Qualification". Complete Sports Nigeria. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  3. ↑ "First Bank, Dolphins qualify for African Women Basketball Champions Cup". Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  4. 1 2 Ajom, Jacob (February 25, 2016). "Zenith declares continuous commitment to Women's Basketball League". Vanguard. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  5. ↑ "Title sponsorship of the National Women Basketball League (in conjunction with the Nigeria Basketball Federation)". Zenith Bank. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  6. 1 2 "Zenith Bank splashes 30 million to sponsor Women Basketball league". Guardian. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  7. ↑ "Nigerian basketball needs restructuring – D'Tigress guard". The Punch. September 30, 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  8. ↑ "NBBF Leadership Impasse: Basketball Players Storm Sports Minister's Office, Demand Immediate Action". Precise Post. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Zenith Women's Elite Basketball league tips off". ACL Sports. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "MFM are champions of the 2023 Nigerian Zenith Bank Women Basketball League". FIBA. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Omisakin, Dotun. "Three years after, Nigeria's women basketball league yet to dunk-off, triggers talent drain". International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Zenith women League teams". Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  13. ↑ "MFM Are Champions Of 2023 Zenith Women's Basketball League". Sports Market International. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Igwe, Ignatius. "Women Basketball League: Air Warriors Emerge 2019 Champions". Channels TV. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Ngobua, David (April 16, 2016). "Zenith Bank Women Basketball League has come of age". Dailytrust. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  16. ↑ Boluwaji, Bamidele (July 29, 2017). "FirstBank Blow Out Deepwater, Win Zenith Women's Basketball League". Complete Sports. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  17. ↑ "FirstBank Elephant Girls win the Zenith Bank Women's Basketball Championship". May 24, 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  18. ↑ "ZENITH WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE FINAL: Dolphins Beat First Bank Elephants". Sport Day Newspaper. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  19. ↑ "Delta Force Wins At Zenith Bank Basketball League". Tide Newspaper. June 11, 2012. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  20. ↑ "Zenith Bank League: Aderemi Vows To Beat Deepwater In Ilorin".
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