Women's National Basketball League (Philippines)
The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) is a professional women's basketball league in the Philippines.
Current season, competition or edition: 2021 WNBL–Philippines season | |
 | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 |
| Inaugural season | 2019 |
| President | Celso "Soy" Mercado |
| Commissioner | Armando "Noy" Guevarra |
| No. of teams | TBA |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Continent | FIBA Asia (Asia) |
| Most recent champion(s) | PAF Lady Air Defenders (1st title) |
| Most titles | PAF Lady Air Defenders (1 title) |
| TV partner(s) | Solar Sports |
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, and the Cleon and Clyde Lady Snipers.[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 have accepted the NBL and WNBL's application to become a professional league.[6][4] The first WNBL draft will be held in October 2020 with the WNBL's first season as a professional league to commence sometime in January 2021.[7]
Teams
Current teams
| Team | Locality |
|---|---|
| AAI Holdings Bicol Lady Tigers | Naga City, Camarines Sur |
| Laguna Lady Pistons | Santa Rosa, Laguna |
| Pampanga Delta Amazons | San Fernando, Pampanga |
| Parañaque Lady Aces | Parañaque, Metro Manila |
| Philippine Navy Lady Sailors - Go For Gold |
N/A |
| Quezon City Lady Defenders | Quezon City, Metro Manila |
| STAN-Quezon Lady Spartans | Quezon Province |
| Taguig Lady Generals | Taguig, Metro Manila |
Defunct teams
- Cleon and Clyde Lady Snipers
- Philippine Air Force Lady Air Defenders
References
- Women's basketball breaks through glass ceiling through WNBL, ABS-CBN Sports, April 5, 2019
- NBL women’s league fires off this weekend, Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Business World Online, April 5, 2019
- "Parañaque ousts Laguna in inaugural WNBL opener". Rappler. April 7, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- Li, Matthew (July 27, 2020). "Sources: WNBL looks to go pro". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- Naredo, Camille (September 2, 2020). "WNBL: Turning pro is 'dream come true' for Filipina players". Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- First women’s pro league in Philippines gets GAB nod, Joey Villar, The Philippine Star, August 26, 2020
- Morales, Luisa (September 2, 2020). "Philippines first women's pro hoops league eyes January 2021 debut". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 2, 2020.