Women's Basketball League (Netherlands) Explained

Women's Basketball League
Organiser:Basketball Nederland
First:1949–50
Country:Netherlands
Confed:FIBA Europe (Europe)
Teams:9
Relegation:Promotiedivisie
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Carla de Liefde Trophy
WBL Final Four
Supercup:Supercup
Confed Cup:EuroCup Women
Champions:Grasshoppers (4th title)
Season:2023–24
Most Champs:Blue Stars (20 titles)
Current:2019–20 WBL season

The Women's Basketball League (WBL) is the highest level of women's basketball in the Netherlands. The first season was played in 1949. Blue Stars is the record titleholder of the league with twenty won championships. The league consists of 10 teams as of August 2024.[1]

History

From its establishment, the league was known as "Eredivisie".

In 2019, the league name was changed from Vrouwen Basketball League (VBL) to Women's Basketball League (WBL).[2] The 2019–20 season was cancelled prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first time the competition was not played out. No champion was named.

2021–22 clubs

The league currently consists of 9 teams. In the 2022–23 season, BAL will enter the league as its tenth team.[3]

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

ClubLocationVenueCapacity
De Kooi
De Driesprong
Sporthal Lunetten
Sporthal Sportlaan
Cleijn Duijn
De Vlaskoel
ICL Sportcenter
Scharlakenhof
Van Hogendorphal

List of champions

Performance by team

Teams in bold are still active in the VBL.

ClubWinnersYears won
Blue Stars201951–1959, 1962–1964, 1966, 1969, 1971–1976,
Den Helder161985, 1988–1991, 1996, 1998–2000, 2004–2006, 2008, 2009, 2021, 2022
Landslake Lions62001, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016
AMVJ41961, 1965, 1967, 1968
Canadians41960, 1980, 1981, 1986
Grasshoppers42018, 2019, 2023, 2024
Tonego31993–1995
Batouwe22015, 2017
RZ21977, 1978
Lieshout11997
BOB Oud-Beijerland11979
Hoofddorp11987
Lely12003
Voorburg11992
Leiderdorp12011
Jolly Jumpers12002

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball.nl/competitie/uitslagen-programma-en-stand/competities/!/standen/48/a Basketball.nl – Standings VBL
  2. Web site: Women's Basketball League. Basketball.nl. 1 April 2020.
  3. Web site: BAL gaat eredivisie in met vrouwenteam . 1Limburg Nieuws en sport uit Limburg . 23 January 2022 . nl . 16 October 2021.