Women's Basketball League (Netherlands)

The Women's Basketball League (WBL) is the highest level of women's basketball in the Netherlands. The first season was played in 1949. Blue Stars is the record titleholder of the league with twenty won championships. The league consists of 10 teams as of August 2024.[1]

Women's Basketball League
Organising bodyBasketball Nederland
Founded1949; 75 years ago (1949)
First season1949–50
CountryNetherlands
ConfederationFIBA Europe (Europe)
Number of teams9
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toPromotiedivisie
Domestic cup(s)Carla de Liefde Trophy
WBL Final Four
SupercupSupercup
International cup(s)EuroCup Women
Current championsGrasshoppers (4th title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsBlue Stars (20 titles)
2019–20 WBL season

History

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From its establishment, the league was known as "Eredivisie".

 
Former logo of the league, when it was the VBL

In 2019, the league name was changed from Vrouwen Basketball League (VBL) to Women's Basketball League (WBL).[2] The 2019–20 season was cancelled prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first time the competition was not played out. No champion was named.

2021–22 clubs

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The league currently consists of 9 teams. In the 2022–23 season, BAL will enter the league as its tenth team.[3]

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Club Location Venue Capacity
Batouwe Bemmel De Kooi
650
Binnenland Barendrecht De Driesprong
300
Utrecht Cangeroes Utrecht Sporthal Lunetten
Den Helder Suns Den Helder Sporthal Sportlaan
1,000
Grasshoppers Katwijk Cleijn Duijn
450
Jolly Jumpers Tubbergen De Vlaskoel
Landslake Lions Landsmeer ICL Sportcenter
900
Martini Sparks Haren Scharlakenhof
Triple Threat Haarlem Van Hogendorphal

List of champions

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Performance by team

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Teams in bold are still active in the VBL.

Club Winners Years won
Blue Stars 20 1951–1959, 1962–1964, 1966, 1969, 1971–1976,
Den Helder 16 1985, 1988–1991, 1996, 1998–2000, 2004–2006, 2008, 2009, 2021, 2022
Landslake Lions 6 2001, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016
AMVJ 4 1961, 1965, 1967, 1968
Canadians 4 1960, 1980, 1981, 1986
Grasshoppers 4 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024
Tonego 3 1993–1995
Batouwe 2 2015, 2017
RZ 2 1977, 1978
Lieshout 1 1997
BOB Oud-Beijerland 1 1979
Hoofddorp 1 1987
Lely 1 2003
Voorburg 1 1992
Leiderdorp 1 2011
Jolly Jumpers 1 2002

References

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  1. ^ Basketball.nl – Standings VBL
  2. ^ "Women's Basketball League". Basketball.nl. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  3. ^ "BAL gaat eredivisie in met vrouwenteam". 1Limburg | Nieuws en sport uit Limburg (in Dutch). 16 October 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
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