The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) is a women's professional basketball league in the Philippines. It is the men's counterpart of the National Basketball League (NBL–Pilipinas), sharing the same organization.
History The National Basketball League 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.Women's basketball breaks through glass ceiling through WNBL, ABS-CBN Sports, April 5, 2019NBL women’s league fires off this weekend, Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Business World Online, April 5, 2019
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. Air Force won the inaugural title. The WNBL planned to hold its second season in 2020 but such move was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On August 26, 2020, the Games and Amusements Board accepted the NBL and WNBL's application to become professional leagues. First women’s pro league in Philippines gets GAB nod, Joey Villar, The Philippine Star, August 26, 2020 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.
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 Cleon and Clyde Lady Snipers Glutagence Glow Boosters Laguna Lady Pistons Pacific Water Queens Pampanga Delta Amazons Parañaque Lady Aces
List of champions SeasonChampionSeriesRunner-UpSeason MVPTeam 2019 PAF Lady Air Defenders 2–0 Taguig Lady Generals Janine Pontejos Taguig Lady Generals 2021 Parañaque Lady Aces 2–0 Taguig Lady Generals Allana Lim Parañaque Lady Aces 2022 Philippine Army Lady Battalions 2–0 Philippine Air Force – PSI Lady Air Defenders Cindy Resultay Philippine Air Force - PSI Lady Air Defenders
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