NBL1 East, formerly the Waratah League, is a semi-professional basketball league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, comprising both a men's and women's competition. In 2021, Basketball New South Wales partnered with the National Basketball League (NBL) to bring NBL1 to New South Wales in 2022. NBL1 replaced the former Waratah League to create more professional pathways and opportunities for males and females playing basketball in New South Wales. As a result, the Waratah League became the east conference of NBL1. The league was previously a member of the Australian Basketball Association (ABA) from 2001 to 2008.
| Most recent season or competition: 2024 NBL1 season | |
 | |
| Formerly | Premier Division 1991–2000 Waratah League 2001–2021 |
|---|---|
| Sport | Basketball |
| Founded | 1991 |
| First season | 1991 |
| No. of teams | M: 16 W: 16 |
| Country | Australia |
| Continent | FIBA Oceania (Oceania) |
| Most recent champion(s) | M: Maitland Mustangs (1st title) W: Newcastle Falcons (4th title) |
| Most titles | M: Sydney Comets (5 titles) W: Bankstown Bruins (10 titles) |
| Official website | NBL1.com.au/East |
History
editIn 1991, the New South Wales Premier Division was established.[1] In 2001, the league was rebranded as Waratah League[1] when the league entered the Australian Basketball Association (ABA).[2]
In 2021, Basketball New South Wales and the National Basketball League (NBL) announced a new partnership to bring NBL1 to New South Wales in 2022, with NBL1 replacing the Waratah League. The Waratah League was officially renamed NBL1 East and became the east conference of NBL1.[3][4]
Current clubs
edit
* Teams that transferred from the Waratah League.
** Teams that transferred from other NBL1 conference.
List of Champions
edit| Men | Women | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams |  |
Year(s) won | Teams | |
Year(s) won |
| Sydney Comets | 5 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2015 | Bankstown Bruins | 10 | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2015 |
| Bankstown Bruins | 4 | 1993, 1996, 1997, 2016 | Newcastle Hunters/Falcons | 4 | 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 |
| Illawarra Hawks | 4 | 1998, 1999, 2001, 2011 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 3 | 1991, 1992, 2017 |
| Sutherland Sharks | 4 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2023 | Sutherland Sharks | 3 | 1993, 1995, 2021 |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 4 | 2010, 2013, 2020, 2021 | ACT Academy | 3 | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Norths Bears | 3 | 2012, 2014, 2017 | Hornsby Spiders | 3 | 2007, 2009, 2014 |
| Parramatta Wildcats | 2 | 1994, 2009 | Norths Bears | 3 | 2018, 2020, 2023 |
| Newcastle Hunters | 2 | 2000, 2018 | Wagga Wolves | 1 | 1994 |
| Goulburn Bears | 1 | 1991 | Parramatta Wildcats | 1 | 1996 |
| Sydney Sonics | 1 | 1992 | Sydney Comets | 1 | 2008 |
| ACT | 1 | 1995 | Canberra Nationals | 1 | 2011 |
| Central Coast Crusaders | 1 | 2019 | Illawarra Hawks | 1 | 2013 |
| BA Centre of Excellence | 1 | 2021 | Albury Wodonga Bandits | 1 | 2022 |
| Canberra Gunners | 1 | 2022 | |||
| Maitland Mustangs | 1 | 2024 | |||
References
edit- ^ a b "History". Waratah Basketball League. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Annual Report 2001" (PDF). Basketball Australia. p. 25 (27). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2012.
- ^ "NBL1 East to tip off in 2022". NBL1.com.au. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "NBL1 East teams unveiled". NBL1.com.au. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.