Dolphins Begin Zenith Bank\NBBF Basketball League Title Defence Against First Deep Water

Defending champions Dolphins Women Basketball Club will begin their title defence in the 2026 NBBF/Zenith Bank Women’s Premier Basketball League against First Deep Water on Sunday, August 16.
The opening-phase fixture will be played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, as the Atlantic Conference gets the new season underway.

Dolphins defeated MFM in last year’s final to end the latter’s back-to-back reign as champions in 2023 and 2024.

The opening day will also feature a clash between IGP Queens and newcomers Victoria Queens, while record champions First Bank will face Royal Aces in an afternoon encounter.

Two-time champions MFM will also begin their campaign against Bayelsa Blue Whales.

Teams competing in the Atlantic Conference are expected to arrive on Saturday, August 15, with the first phase running until August 22.

One of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the opening phase will see MFM take on First Bank on the evening of August 22.

The Savannah Conference will then get underway on Tuesday, August 18, at the Basketball Arena, Rayfield, Jos, with Air Warriors facing Kada Angels in the opening game.

Nasarawa Amazons will battle Ham Warriors, while Titans take on Nigeria Customs. The day will conclude with Aso Sky Queens facing Plateau Rocks.
Unlike the Atlantic Conference, the Savannah Conference will conclude its first phase on Monday, August 24.

The league, sponsored by Zenith Bank in partnership with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), is expected to provide another platform for the country’s leading female basketball clubs to compete for domestic supremacy.