Current season, competition or edition: 2015–16 Women's British Basketball League season |
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The WBBL logo, featuring the Molten GG7 match ball
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Sport | Basketball |
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Founded | 5 June 2014 |
Inaugural season | 2014–15 |
No. of teams | 10 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Continent | FIBA Europe (Europe) |
Most recent champion(s) |
Nottingham Wildcats 1st title |
Most titles |
Nottingham Wildcats Sheffield Hatters (1 title) |
TV partner(s) | BBC Sport |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | None |
Related competitions |
British Basketball League |
Official website | www.WBBL.org.uk |
The Women's British Basketball League (WBBL) is the top-level women's basketball league in the United Kingdom, founded on 5 June 2014 as the women's counterpart to the British Basketball League (BBL). The league's headquarters are based in Leicester alongside the offices of the men's BBL.
Like the BBL, the organisation uses a franchise-based system so there is no promotion and relegation between the WBBL and the English Women's Basketball League, which forms the lower divisions. Along with the WBBL Championship and the post-season Play-offs, it also runs the WBBL Trophy – a knockout competition featuring all WBBL member teams. In addition to these, member clubs also feature in the National Cup and the Betty Codona Classic.
Officially approved by the British Basketball League and England Basketball, the newly created Women's British Basketball League was announced to the public on 5 June 2014, and the 2014–15 Women's British Basketball League season was the league's first full season of competition.
The initial line-up included pre-existing teams from England and Wales, competing in a franchise-based organisation similar to the men's British Basketball League model, with no promotion or relegation in operation with the lower leagues. All eight teams from the pre-existing English Basketball League Division One (Women) competition were selected as member clubs, whilst the two finalists from the 2014 Division Two (Women) Play-offs, Brixton Lady TopCats and Leeds Beckett University, although Leeds resigned from the League after just a single season.
The Women's British Basketball League is run by a ten-person board, which takes all decisions regarding League policies, issues and rules. The director of each member club – or franchise as it is known – sits on the board, ensuring equal representation.