Naisten Korisliiga (Women's Basketball League) is the highest tier of women's basketball in Finland. The competition was formerly known as Koripallon naisten SM-sarja (Women's Basketball Finnish Championship) and was renamed Naisten Korisliiga for the 2013–14 season.

History

Women's Finnish Championship was first introduced in 1944. The first championship was won by Helsingin Tarmo. In the 1940s, the league had six teams and the title was awarded after the regular season. In 1953 the number of teams was raised to ten. Postseason playoffs were first played in the 1973–74 season, with Nokian Urheilijat emerging victorious after defeating first Tapiolan Honka (2–1) in the Semifinals and then Työväen Mailapojat (2–1) in the Finals.

For the 2014–15 season, the league has 10 teams and each team plays each other three times in the regular season, resulting in 27 games per team. The top 8 teams continue to postseason playoffs which are played in Best-of-five format. The team placed last after the regular season is relegated to Naisten I Divisioona (English: Women's First Division).

Lea Hakala could be seen as the most influential player so far in the history of Naisten Korisliiga. Hakala played 25 seasons in the league and currently leads the record for career points. She has won the championship title for record-breaking 15 times and she has also been awarded the Player of the Year Award for 4 times.

Current teams

Teams competing in the 2019–20 Naisten Korisliiga season: Catz Lappeenranta, Lappeenranta Espoo Basket Team (EBT), Espoo Forssan Alku (FoA), Forssa HBA-Märsky, Helsinki Hyvinkään Ponteva (HyPo), Hyvinkää Kouvottaret, Kouvola Peli-Karhut (PeKa), Kotka Tapiolan Honka, Espoo Torpan Pojat (ToPo), Helsinki Vimpelin Veto (ViVe), Vimpeli

Recent champions Season Champion Runner-up Score Third place2018–19 Peli-Karhut Catz Lappeenranta3–2 Hyvinkään Ponteva2017–18 Peli-Karhut Catz Lappeenranta3–2 Hyvinkään Ponteva2016–17 Hyvinkään Ponteva Espoo United3–1 Catz Lappeenranta2015–16 Catz Lappeenranta Hyvinkään Ponteva3–0 Äänekosken Huima2014–15 Catz Lappeenranta Äänekosken Huima3–0 Torpan Pojat2013–14 Catz Lappeenranta Peli-Karhut3–1 Torpan Pojat2012–13 Catz Lappeenranta Peli-Karhut3–0 Tapiolan Honka2011–12 Catz Lappeenranta Äänekosken Huima3–2 Peli-Karhut2010–11 Peli-Karhut Catz Lappeenranta3–1 Espoo Team2009–10 Catz Lappeenranta Peli-Karhut3–0 Espoo Team2008–09 Espoo Team Catz Lappeenranta3–1 Peli-Karhut2007–08 Peli-Karhut Catz Lappeenranta3–1 Helsingin NMKY2006–07 Peli-Karhut Catz Lappeenranta3–2 Äänekosken Huima2005–06 Pantterit Äänekosken Huima3–2 BC Nokia2004–05 BC Nokia Pantterit3–1 Peli-Karhut

List of champions Team Titles Season Nokian Urheilijat 81971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 Tampereen Pyrintö 81950, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86 Sampo Basket 81965–66, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1976–77, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88 Forssan Alku 81988–89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 Helsingin Työväen Uimarit 61960, 1961, 1962, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65 Pantterit 51999-00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06Peli-Karhut 52006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2017–18, 2018–19 Catz Lappeenranta 42009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14 Eiran Kisa-Veikot 31945, 1946, 1949 Helsingin Tarmo 31944, 1948, 1954 Helsingin Visa 21956, 1959 Jyväskylän Kiri 21970–71, 1972–73 Pussihukat 21990–91, 1991–92 Porin Veto 11951 Lahden Koripalloilijat 11952 Helsingin Kisa-Toverit 11966–67 Työväen Maila-Pojat 11967–68 Turun Riento 11989–90 Äänekosken Huima 12002–03 BC Nokia 12004–05 Espoo Team 12008–09

Records Career At least 100 or more games played in the league Most points: 11563 Lea Hakala Highest points per game average: 19.23 Heli Roukanoja Most assists: 1179 Kenya Robinson Highest assists per game average: 3.26 Reetta Piipari Most rebounds: 6578 Kenya Robinson Highest rebounds per game average: 12.46 Kenya Robinson Highest efficiency: 12294 Kenya Robinson Highest efficiency per game average: 31.15 Anna Hollos

Season Has played in at least 50% of the season's games Most points: 911 Melissa Jeltema (Tapiolan Honka), 2012–13 Highest points per game average: 26.47 Medina Turner (Äänekosken Huima), 1996–97 Most assists: 172 Reetta Piipari (Peli-Karhut), 2013–14 Highest assists per game average: 6.15 Nikki Speed, (HoNsU), 2013–14 Most rebounds: 575 Shauna Tubbs (Äänekosken Huima), 1997–98 Highest rebounds per game average: 17.14 Sarah Zawodny (Forssan Alku), 2002–03 Highest efficiency: 1290 Keisha Johnson (Tampereen Pyrintö), 1994–95 Highest efficiency per game average: 36.95 Jennie Hall (Nokian Urheilijat), 1983–84

Match Most points: 53 Nina Pajanti-Raudus (Forssan Alku), vs. Peli-Karhut (121–82), October 21, 1995 Most assists: 16 Erja Laaksonen (HNMKY), vs. Tapiolan Honka, (83–73), October 24, 1999 Most rebounds: 32 Oberon Pitterson (Tampereen Pyrintö), vs. Äänekosken Huima (78–58), October 12, 1996 Highest efficiency: 67 Oberon Pitterson (Tampereen Pyrintö), vs. Äänekosken Huima (78–58), October 12, 1996

All records include both regular season and playoffs. Updated as of season 2013–14

References

External links Official website