| National Women Basketball League (NWBL) | |
| Sport: | Basketball |
| Founded: | 2004 (in current format) |
| Inaugural: | 2005 |
| Teams: | 18 |
| Continent: | FIBA Africa (Africa) |
| Champion: | MFM Queens (1st title) |
| Champ Season: | 2023 |
| Most Champs: | First Bank (9 titles) |
| 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]
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. 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]
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 |
| Year | Winner | Runnerup | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | MFM Queens | Nigeria Customs | [13] |
| 2019 | Air Warriors | MFM Queens | [14] |
| 2018 | First Bank | First Deepwater | |
| 2017 | First Bank | First Deepwater | [15] |
| 2016 | First Bank | Dolphins | [16] |
| 2015 | Dolphins | First Bank | [17] |
| 2014 | First Bank | Dolphins | [18] |
| 2013 | First Deepwater | Dolphins | |
| 2012 | First Deepwater | First Bank | |
| 2011 | First Deepwater | First Bank | [19] [20] |
| 2010 | First Deepwater | First Bank | |
| 2009 | First Bank | First Deepwater | |
| 2008 | First Bank | Dolphins | |
| 2007 | First Bank | Dolphins | |
| 2006 | First Bank | Dolphins | |
| 2005 | First Bank | Dolphins | |