After another outstanding season up North, the conference will return for its fifth season on May 2nd.
NBL1.com.au has taken a deep dive into the fixture and we've found six games you should pencil in for the new year.
Logan looking for finals redemption at home
Round 1, May 2: Men’s Logan Thunder vs Southern Districts Spartans
The Logan Thunder will be hunting redemption in their first home game of the season, after suffering a 24-point loss in the Quarter Finals last season to the Southern District Spartans.
The home-court advantage wasn't enough to distract the Spartans, with Tyrell Harrison pulling down 22 points and 24 rebounds to prematurely end Logan’s season.
Coming into 2025, the Thunder will be led once again by Luke Cann and have the chance to set a strong tone for the start of their season.
Phoenix debut their new superstar
Round 1, May 3: Women’s Sunshine Coast Phoenix vs Southern Districts Spartans
After another outstanding season in the NBL1 North, Erin Bollmann finds herself on a new team in a new location.
Having previously played with Darwin and Northside, the back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year will now spearhead a new-look Sunshine Coast women’s team for the next two seasons.
The Phoenix finished last on the 2024 ladder with a 2-15 record, and Bollmann’s talent on both ends should immediately add wins. Her presence and experience will also have a major impact on the local core, so expect to see the Phoenix rise from the ashes in 2025.
A new rivalry brews
Round 1, May 3: Men’s South West Metro Pirates vs Logan Thunder
After a controversial finish and a close loss three weeks later last season, the South West Metro Pirates will now host the Logan Thunder in Round 1.
The first game took place on July 6th, where Logan’s Shaun Bruce made a floater with 0.09 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 95-93. The Pirates quickly inbounded the ball and Lamar Patterson threw up a prayer from the opposite free-throw line to take the lead.
The Instant Review System revealed that the stadium shot clock was incorrect, and “the officials were able to determine that the shot would not have been released in the allotted time,” Basketball Queensland said after the match.
This was a conversational finish, with many fans and Pirates players up in arms on social media to voice their displeasure.
However, the turnaround to their next match was quick, taking place on June 15, with it also being a battle for the Finals positioning. After a back-and-forth clash, Logan again took the win 95-91 off the back of Zac Triplett’s 30 points.
With tempers high last season, will we see a new rivalry kicking off between these two teams in Round 1?
Pirates fans first look at a key rotation piece
Round 1, May 3: Women’s South West Metro Pirates vs Logan Thunder
After an impressive season in the NBL1 West, Brooke Malone will head North for 2025.
The Perth native has spent the past three seasons in the West, but will now take on a new conference in May alongside the South West Metro Pirates.
The 6’1 guard will be a welcomed addition to the lineup, averaging 16.5 points and 6.8 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Perth Redbacks.
With the pace the North conference plays at, expect her size and athleticism to have a major impact on how the Pirates play this coming season.
Women’s Grand Final rematch
Round 6, June 6: Northside Wizards vs Rockhampton Cyclones
For the first time in NBL1 North history, last season’s Grand Final went to three games and saw the Rockhampton Cyclones overwhelm the defending champions.
The rematch will take place at Northside’s home once again, and there will be plenty of bad blood between these two teams after the battle it was for three straight games last season.
Both Rockhampton’s Morgan Yaeger and Northside’s Erin Bollmann will be representing new teams in 2025, so expect to see some new, talented, and fresh faces to fill their absence in this Grand Final rematch.
Men’s Grand Final rematch
Round 8, June 20: Brisbane Capitals vs Mackay Meteors
The reigning champions are entering a new era with the departure of General Manager and head coach, Joel Khlau after he delivered Mackay a championship.
Being rewarded with an assistant coaching role for the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks, former NBL1 East championship coach Matt Paps will now lead the Meteors. On the other side, the Capitals have re-signed their head coach Greg Vanderjagt – bringing some stability and strong recruiting capabilities back to Brisbane.
Last season’s Grand Final was determined by stars, with MVP Sam McDaniel taking on Mackay’s trio of Isaac White, Todd Blanchfield and Luca Yates – with an early injury to McDaniel, Mackay swept the series to claim the title.
Will McDaniel return for a revenge season? Or can Paps translate his championship experience to this new-look Meteors squad?
