The highly anticipated national Finals of the 2026 Zenith Bank NBBF Women’s Basketball League will take place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The nation's top eight teams have earned their place in the final battle for national honours after fiercely contested Atlantic and Savannah Conference campaigns. Nigeria Customs, AS Sky Queens, Titans, Air Warriors, MFM, First Bank, Victoria Queens, and Bayelsa Blue Whales will compete for the championship title.
Last year’s champions, Dolphins Basketball Club, will not be in the mix this year after failing to make the top 4 of the Atlantic Conference, leaving the title firmly up for grabs and setting the stage for a new champion to emerge. First Bank, last year’s finalist and the most successful team in the history of the competition, arrives with a record nine league titles. MFM will be looking to draw on its recent dominance after winning back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024.
The league has, for more than two decades, provided a platform for Nigeria’s best female basketball talents to emerge, compete and develop. At the heart of that journey has been Zenith Bank, the sole sponsor of the National Women’s Basketball League since 2005. Through its partnership with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Zenith Bank has consistently supported the development of women’s basketball.
The league has also served as an important pathway to the National Women Basketball team, D’Tigress, with several players who have featured prominently for Nigeria emerging from the domestic competition. Beyond the national team, the league continues to contribute to youth development by giving young female athletes the opportunity to build confidence, skill, discipline, teamwork and professional sporting careers.
Zenith Bank's sponsorship of the Women’s Basketball League represents more than support for a sporting competition. It reflects the Bank’s broader commitment to creating platforms that provide opportunities, develop potential and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young Nigerians. This commitment extends across several areas of community development.
Zenith Bank has undertaken notable initiatives, including the reconstruction and beautification of Ajose Adeogun Street and Roundabout, the annual Zenith Bank Youth Parade and Light-Up Ceremony, and the construction of ICT Centres in tertiary institutions across the country. The Bank has also constructed the ultra-modern Iga Iduganran Primary Healthcare Centre.
With both top teams, First Bank and MFM, among the Final 8, history, experience and ambition will collide as the battle for the crown unfolds. The spotlight turns to Lagos, and the question remains: which team will grab the opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of Nigerian women’s basketball?
Key points
- The Zenith Bank NBBF Women’s Basketball League finals will feature eight top Nigerian women's basketball teams competing from 28 September to 3 October 2026 in Lagos.
- Zenith Bank has been the sole sponsor of the National Women’s Basketball League since 2005, supporting the development of women’s basketball in Nigeria.
- The league has contributed to the growth of women's basketball in Nigeria, providing a pathway to the National Women Basketball team, D’Tigress, and opportunities for young female athletes.
