The Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 schedule for the 2024 season has been announced ahead of the league’s most anticipated season yet.
1440 regular season games will be played in every state and territory across the five conferences in NBL1 North, East, South, West, and Central.
The season starts on Saturday, March 23 with NBL1 Central, followed by NBL1 West on Thursday, March 28, NBL1 South on Wednesday, April 3, NBL1 East on Saturday, April 6 and NBL1 North on Thursday, April 11.
Excitement for the 2024 season is already at fever pitch, with Olympians Lauren Jackson and Sara Blicavs, NBL1 National Finals Championship Game MVP Megan McKay, NBL champion Dillon Stith and multiple conference MVPs already putting pen to paper before the new year has started.
“Season 2024 of the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 will be our best yet, with 1440 games, stacked rosters, an introduction of a nationwide Heritage Round, the return of ANZAC Round and First Nations Round, and a new naming rights partner,” NBL1 General Manager, Dean Anglin, said.
“Coming off a season of tremendous growth, we are looking forward to driving the league to greater heights in 2024 with a jam-packed schedule full of blockbuster games every weekend.
“We are excited to welcome back the players, communities, clubs, partners, and fans for what promises to be a highly competitive and entertaining season.”
Every NBL1 game will be streamed live on NBL1.com.au, NBL1 App and Games of the Week will be Live & Free via Kayo Freebies.
NBL1 SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
Check out some of the key games to put in your calendar from each conference below:
Round 1 - Saturday, April 6: It all starts with the Kibble Mallon Cup doubleheader between the Maitland Mustangs and Newcastle Falcons.
Round 3 - Saturday, April 20: The NBL1 East men's Grand Final re-match will take place between the Maitland Mustangs and the defending champion Sutherland Sharks.
Round 4 - Thursday, April 25: Six games take place on ANZAC Day, with the Freeway Series cup between the Illawarra Hawks and Sutherland Sharks headlining the Round.
Round 8 - Saturday, May 25: The NBL1 East women's Grand Final re-match will take place between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the defending champion Norths Bears.
Round 1 - Thursday, April 11: The conference will open with a former legend of the club, Mikaela Ruef, making her return to the Logan Thunder after signing with the North Gold Coast Seahawks this offseason.
Round 1 - Saturday, April 13: The first round will feature a Grand Final rematch, with the men's Ipswich Force presenting their championship banner at home against the Gold Coast Rollers after their firey three-game series.
Round 6 - Sunday, May 19: The women's Grand Final rematch will take place in Round 6 on a Sunday, with the Rockhampton Cyclones hosting the defending champion Northside Wizards.
Round 1 - Saturday, April 6: The Conference and National Champion women's Bendigo Braves will host the Waverley Falcons in a hotly anticipated rematch of the NBL1 South Grand Final last season.
Round 1 - Wednesday, April 3: The Conference and National Champion men's Knox Raiders start the season straight after Easter to give Victorian fans a must-watch Grand Final rematch in some midweek hoops.
Round 4 - Wednesday, April 24: In a stable of the NBL1 South fixture, the Frankston Blues will host the Dandenong Rangers in an ANZAC Round special double-header.
Round 4 - Friday, April 19: Reigning MVP and Club legend Alex Sharp will face her former team, the Willetton Tigers, at home with her new team the Rockingham Flames.
Round 6 - Saturday, May 4: The Willetton Tigers will host the defending champion Cockburn Cougars in what will be a tense match-up between the historically successful Tigers and the now-targeted Cougars.
Round 7 - Friday, May 10: The Joondalup Wolves will host their local rivals, the Warwick Senators, in what will be a blockbuster match-up between two heavily supported clubs in a prime-time Friday night game.
Round 10 - Saturday, June 1: The Geraldton Buccaneers will host the Joondalup Wolves to open the month of June, allowing the regional supporters of the Buccaneers to rally behind their team in a Grand Final rematch.
Round 3 - Saturday, April 6: The NBL1 Central women's Grand Final rematch will take place, with the Norwood Flames hosting the Sturt Sabres. The Sabres will be hungry for a win as the Flames handed them their only loss of the season in the Grand Final.
Round 7 - Saturday, May 4: The NBL1 Central men's Grand Final rematch will take place, with the West Adelaide Bearcats hosting the Forestville Eagles in a prime-time Saturday night match-up.
Round 6 - Thursday, April 25 and Saturday, April 27: All ten teams will host games across the ANZAC Round, spread across Thursday and Saturday.
