Women's National Basketball League (Philippines)

The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) is a professional women's basketball league in the Philippines.

Women's National Basketball League (WNBL)
SportBasketball
Founded2019
Inaugural season2019
PresidentCelso "Soy" Mercado
CommissionerJohn Edward Aquino
Country Philippines
ContinentFIBA Asia (Asia)
Most recent
champion(s)		Philippine Army
(1st title)
Most titlesPhilippine Army
PAF Lady Air Defenders
Parañaque Lady Aces
(1 title each)
TV partner(s)ALIW 23

It is organized by the National Basketball League (NBL) which also maintains a men's league.

History

The National Basketball League (NBL) which maintains a men's league decided to organize a women's league as well to support the program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the Philippines' national governing body for basketball.[1][2]

The WNBL inaugural season began on April 7, 2019, and featured seven teams: Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Taguig Lady Generals, Pampanga Delta Amazons, Cleon and Clyde Lady Snipers, Laguna Lady Pistons & Paranaque Lady Aces.[3] Air Force won the inaugural title.[4] The WNBL planned to hold its second season in 2020 but such move was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

On August 26, 2020, the Games and Amusements Board accepted the NBL and WNBL's application to become professional leagues.[6][4] The first WNBL draft was held on February 13, 2021.

The first professional season of the WNBL began on July 18, 2021.

The WNBL would launch their own 3x3 tournament with the first season held in 2021–22.[7][8]

Teams

Current teams
Team Locality Team governor Head coach
Philippine Air Force - PSI Lady Air Defenders n/a MGen. Augustine Maliit Alvin Zuniga
Philippine Army Lady Battalions n/a Col. John Oliver Gabun SSgt. Gerry Gadong
Philippine Navy Lady Sailors – Go For Gold n/a Jeremy Go Emelia Vega
Quezon Lady Spartan Quezon Angeline Helen Tan Christine Isip
Taguig Lady Generals Taguig, Metro Manila Bing Victoria Marc Robin Lucena

Former teams

List of champions
SeasonChampionSeriesRunner-UpSeason MVPTeam
2019PAF Lady Air Defenders2–0Taguig Lady GeneralsJanine PontejosTaguig Lady Generals
2021Parañaque Lady Aces[9]2–0Taguig Lady GeneralsAllana LimParañaque Lady Aces
2022Philippine Army Lady Battalions[10]2–0Philippine Air Force – PSI Lady Air Defenders Cindy ResultayPhilippine Air Force - PSI Lady Air Defenders

References
  1. Women's basketball breaks through glass ceiling through WNBL, ABS-CBN Sports, April 5, 2019
  2. NBL women’s league fires off this weekend, Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Business World Online, April 5, 2019
  3. "Parañaque ousts Laguna in inaugural WNBL opener". Rappler. April 7, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  4. Li, Matthew (July 27, 2020). "Sources: WNBL looks to go pro". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  5. Naredo, Camille (September 2, 2020). "WNBL: Turning pro is 'dream come true' for Filipina players". Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  6. First women’s pro league in Philippines gets GAB nod, Joey Villar, The Philippine Star, August 26, 2020
  7. "Uratex squads pace WNBL". The Philippine Star. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  8. "Uratex Dream eyes back-to-back WNBL 3x3 titles". 13 February 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  9. "Gloriani shines in the clutch as Parañaque fends off Taguig to claim WNBL crown". ABS-CBN News. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  10. "Pontejos scores 33 as Army downs PSI for WNBL title". The Philippine Star. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.


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