Zenith Women Basketball League

For the women's league, see Nigerian Premier League (basketball).

National Women Basketball League (NWBL)

Sport	Basketball
Founded	2004 (in current format)
First season	2005
No. of teams	18
Country	Nigeria
Continent	FIBA Africa (Africa)
Most recent champion(s)	MFM Queens (1st title) (2023)
Most titles	First Bank (9 titles)
Official website	Official 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	Runner-up	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.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
3. "First Bank, Dolphins qualify for African Women Basketball Champions Cup". Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
4. 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. "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.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
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. Ngobua, David (April 16, 2016). "Zenith Bank Women Basketball League has come of age". Dailytrust. Retrieved 2017-09-15.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
16. Boluwaji, Bamidele (July 29, 2017). "FirstBank Blow Out Deepwater, Win Zenith Women's Basketball League". Complete Sports. Retrieved 2017-09-15.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
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. Archived from the original on 2017-10-21. 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".