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)
Current season, competition or edition:
2021 WNBL–Philippines season
SportBasketball
Founded2019
Inaugural season2019
PresidentCelso "Soy" Mercado
CommissionerJohn Edward Aquino
No. of teams7
Country Philippines
ContinentFIBA Asia (Asia)
Most recent
champion(s)		Parañaque Lady Aces
(1st title)
Most titlesPAF Lady Air Defender
Parañaque Lady Acess
(1 title each)
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, 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 in February 13, 2021.

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

Teams

Current teams
Team Locality Team governor Head coach
Glutagence Glow Boosters n/a Michael Leachon
Jerichoxzan Ajero		 Justin Tan
Pacific Water Queens n/a Junnie Navarro John Paolo Pagkalinawan
Parañaque Lady Aces Parañaque, Metro Manila Marvin Santos Jose Nicanor Cruz
Quezon Lady Spartan Quezon Helen Tan Melquiades Villanueva
Taguig Lady Generals Taguig, Metro Manila Lino Cayetano Mixson Ramos

Inactive teams

List of champions
SeasonChampionSeriesRunner-UpSeason MVPTeam
2019PSI Lady Air Defenders2-0Taguig Lady GeneralsJanine PontejosTaguig Lady Generals
2021Parañaque Lady Aces2-0Taguig Lady GeneralsAllana LimParañaque Lady Aces

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


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