After another enormous and successful season, we have our 12 teams locked in for the 2024 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 National Finals this weekend.
Get your tickets below or tune into every game live and free via Kayo Freebies.
Looking for a refresher or the players to watch this weekend? you are in the right place!
Check out each conference's preview and season recap below:
MEN'S: MAITLAND MUSTANGS
Player(s) to watch: Will Cranston-Lown
In what seemed like destiny, the Maitland Mustangs finally claimed their title.
In 2022, the Mustangs made it all the way to the inaugural NBL1 East Grand Final – where they lost to Canberra 80-83. The following season, they overcame the Gunners in the Semi Final, before succumbing to the Sutherland Sharks in the 2023 Grand Final in another three-point loss.
Ensuring they didn’t repeat the past, now back-to-back MVP William Cranston-Lown recruited his former college teammate Christian Little – and the rest is history.
In a dominant 86-67 win in this season’s Grand Final over Canberra, the Mustangs have exercised their demons and will walk into the National Finals as confident contenders.
WOMEN'S NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Player(s) to watch: Nicole Munger
While not many would have picked the Newcastle Falcons to win, after their finals run, it will be hard to underestimate this squad.
Featuring the now back-to-back MVP Nicole Munger, the 6’4” Opal in the making Isla Juffermans, and a collection of rising stars, this squad features the talent diversity to take on the best teams around the country.
The Falcons started their post-season with a statement, defeating the then-undefeated 20-0 Albury Wodonga Bandits in a dominant showing from Munger. In the Preliminary Finals, they dominated Manly Warringah and went on to win a jaw-clenching 85-78 Grand Final finish over Sutherland.
WOMEN'S SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS
Player(s) to watch: Maddy Allen, Kalani Purcell
In the club’s second National Finals appearance, the Southern Districts Spartans will show their “Dark Side” as an advantage.
The nickname for their fans, the Spartans are the geographically closest club to the Sunshine Coast – so expect to see the “Dark Side Family” drive up the coast to visit their club in action one more time this season.
Making the 2022 National Finals in the ‘Wildcard’ position, the Spartans have a similar opportunity this year. They were selected by Basketball Queensland as the representatives of the NBL1 North, after the championship-winning Rockhampton Cyclones withdrew from the tournament with player availability issues.
In a close loss during the Quarter Finals to the North Gold Coast Seahawks, the Spartans will have redemption on the agenda with their second chance coming up this weekend.
MEN'S MACKAY METEORS
Player(s) to watch: Emmett Naar, Jerron Jamerson
This season the Mackay Meteors became the first team in history to have won two titles within the NBL1 era. They claimed their first championship in 2021, led by Jerron Jamerson as the Finals MVP. Now in 2024, Jamerson had Isaac White and Mackay junior, Todd Blanchfield to help lead their second push.
Finishing first on the ladder with a 15-3 record, they automatically qualified for the Semi Finals, where they were tested by the Southern District Spartans, 100-90. Advancing to the Grand Final, they took care of business against the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, Sam McDaniel in a 2-0 sweep over the Brisbane Capitals to claim their spot in history and the National Finals.
WOMEN'S BENDIGO BRAVES (DEFENDING CHAMPIONS)
Player(s) to watch: Kelly Wilson, Megan McKay, Cassidy McLean
Heading into the 2024 season on the ultimate high with an undefeated 28-0 streak, conference title, and a national championship – the Bendigo Braves were destined for further greatness.
However, the team struggled with player availability all season, featuring only five games with their full team. This resulted in their streak ending at 33 games in May and finishing ninth on the NBL1 South ladder.
Despite the disappointing regular season, head coach Mark Alabakov will have tricks up his sleeve, with the unique advantage of having a rested group, the ability to scout the country, and have his star players return.
Featuring Bendigo legend, Kelly Wilson, and the returning Megan McKay alongside their tremendous core group - no one will be sleeping on the Braves in this tournament.
MEN'S KNOX RAIDERS (DEFENDING CHAMPIONS)
Player(s) to watch: KJ Feagin, Malith Machar
After a historic run in 2023 with only seven players to take the National Title, the Knox Raiders are back to defend their spot with more firepower.
The Raiders had an up-and-down regular season, finishing with a 13-9 record and falling short in the Elimination Finals by seven points to the Dandenong Rangers.
During the finals, Knox Raiders head coach Matt Nunn said that his Raiders' new play style will fit the tournament better than last season’s championship team. Prioritising scoring and athleticism, will overall provide the perfect wildcard contender for the National Finals.
Led by Championship Game MVP KJ Feagin, his second season in the NBL1 showed his growth as a leader and facilitator in a more dynamic offence.
WOMEN'S WAVERLEY FALCONS
At one point in the season, the Waverley Falcons were 18th on the ladder. At the end of the season, they were the nation’s hottest team and conference champions.
Winning 15 of their last 16 games, the Falcons roared through the final race as the seventh-seed – taking down their opponents by a margin of 18.3 points in the first three rounds.
Led by WNBL champion Rebecca Cole and NBL1 South Finals MVP Carely Ernst, the 2023 runners-up claimed their coveted title over the stacked Keilor Thunder last Saturday in a close 87-82 win.
With Irish national team player Orla O’Reilly, WNBL veteran Amelia Todhunter and WNBA draft pick McKenzie Forbes, the Falcons head into the Sunshine Coast as the hottest team in the country.
MEN'S ELTHAM WILDCATS
After Round 11, the Eltham Wildcats were 8-8 and sitting 11th in the conference as an afterthought for the Finals race.
Off the back of Angus Glover and Owen Foxwell, the Wildcats clawed back into the top eight and went on a historic run. In a five-point win over Geelong, a dominant showing against the Pioneers in Mount Gambier and a game-winner over Frankston, the Wildcats overcame all odds, soaring over the third on the ladder Ballarat Miners to claim the club’s first SEABL and NBL1 title.
While their two NBL stars made a major difference, their core of Sam Short, Zak Cunningham, Sam Whelan and Ovie Magbegor will represent one of the largest junior associations in the country this weekend.
WOMEN'S ROCKINGHAM FLAMES
Player(s) to watch: Robbi Ryan, Alex Sharp
Going 13-0 to start the season, it seemed destined the Rockingham Flames would hoist the championship trophy in August.
Hosted at RAC Arena, the Flames took down the defending champions in a stunning display of talent. With two-time NBL1 West MVP and now Finals MVP Alex Sharp, Robbi Ryan and Jessica Jakens’ 23 points off the bench, Rockingham became champions.
From top to bottom, the Flames may have the most talented team in the country. Outside of the three WNBL talents in Sharp, Ryan and Nes’aya Parker-Williams, Emma Gandini was named to the NBL1 West Second Team and was voted the Defensive Player of the Year. New recruit this season, Georgia Pineau stepped up in multiple players’ absences with injuries throughout the season.
While their team’s determination was tested in a very close overtime win in the Preliminary Finals, the Flames will no doubt be a top contender to make the Championship Game on Sunday.
MEN'S MANDURAH MAGIC
Player(s) to watch: Joel Murray, Michael Durr
While a championship is special to every club, this particular title means so much more to the Mandurah Magic.
With a 2-20 record in 2023, the men’s program was at an all-time low. But one man was able to turn that all around.
After a year-long recovery from a hand injury and in his first overseas contract, Joel Murray entered a team with no expectations and finished the season as the country's leading scorer, taking the team from last into the Finals race, being named the NBL1 West MVP and leading his team to the championship – resulting in him winning the Finals MVP.
With over 35 years of experience in the NBL1 West (formerly SBL), head coach Mark Utley’s service to the state was rewarded.
In hindsight, the club’s first choice of an import player becoming unavailable was the best thing that ever happened.
MEN'S FORESTVILLE EAGLES
Losing in the 2023 NBL1 Central Grand Final, the Eagles reloaded and conquered.
With a star trio of import All-Star Five member Greg Mays, South Australian basketball royalty in Daniel Johnson, and veteran guard Adam Doyle, Forestville was one of the most consistent threats for the title all season.
The finals run saw them defeat the Sturt Sabres in the Qualifying Final and Preliminary Final, while losing to Alex Starling’s South Adelaide Panthers in the Semi Finals, then bouncing back in a 92-90 win in the Grand Final.
With endless NBL experience, a strong core of local talent and a jaw-dropping import leading the way, the Eagles will most certainly be a challenger for Sunday’s Championship Game.
WOMEN'S CENTRAL DISTRICTS LIONS
From the wooden spoon to championships, it was a fairytale season for the Central Districts Lions, and they’ll now look to continue their run up North this weekend.
Head coach Joe Noone rebuilt the entire roster, bringing back only six players from 2023 and recruiting Jasmin Fejo, now Halls Medallist Casey Samuels, and Taylah Levy.
Winning the club’s first title in history, the Lions faithful and the group are riding an unbelievable high heading into this weekend – so be on the lookout to see if the Lions can be the first team in Central history to claim the National Title.
