NBL1 run home: The key contenders from every conference
From undefeated super teams to dark horses ready to cause chaos, these are the teams you need to keep an eye on as we approach the NBL1's postseason.
It’s all gone by in the blink of an eye, but the NBL1 regular season is almost over.
It means that the playoffs are just around the corner. So who are the key contenders and outside chances in each division of every conference?
Here are all the teams you need to watch, plus the ones that haven’t had the seasons they had hoped…
SOUTH
WOMEN
Lead Contenders…
It was a little over eager to say the Raiders would go through 2026 undefeated, however they are hitting their straps at the perfect time. With just three regular season games left, Knox sits on top of the ladder and in the midst of a 10-game win streak.
Currently Eltham have an identical record, with the two set to play each other on the run home. Lil Dart is well and truly in the MVP race and has been incredible for the Wildcats throughout 2026.
Sandringham and Keilor will be dangerous when their Opals players return, whereas it’s a tough result for Casey, with their MVP candidate Dallas Loughridge likely to join her new Michigan teammates before the NBL1 season ends.
Dark Horse…
The departure of Zitina Aokuso led many people to write Melbourne off, however maybe they shouldn’t be so quick to rule the Tigers out of it. They’ve won three in a row and four out of their last five, and Shuyu Yang has the ability to really blow a game wide open.
Tough year for…
In the preseason it looked as though Ringwood we’re putting together an outfit that might have been in the realm of their 2022 championship side. An ACL injury to Lily Scanlon in the preseason, then one to Annabel Deerbon in their home opener dampened those hopes in a hurry. Emma Clarke has been mostly unavailable due to 3x3 commitments and nothing has quite gelled for the Hawks. Not a year they will want to look back on.
MEN
Lead Contenders…
This season feels like the most open in a few years in the men’s South division. Melbourne, Eltham, and Nunawading lead the ladder and all look in good form as we approach the business end of the year
Photo credit: Rachel Louise Photography
The Tigers are probably the standout pick as they look to avenge their grand final defeat from 2025. They are currently on a six-game winning streak with a winnable game against Sandringham before they play the second-place Wildcats in their final regular season game for the year.
The Spectres are brilliantly coached and the addition of Ben Gristci has been a big one, while Eltham have enjoyed life just fine after the departure of long-time import Josh Sykes.
Dark Horse…
It feels weird to say, but Sandringham look to be the dark horse this season. Despite their stacked lineup they are only going to just scrape into the top 10. However, they are not a side you'd want to face in straight knockout games. Fairytale run coming?
Tough year for…
Normally a perennial contender, the Mt Gambier Pioneers just didn’t have it in 2026. Despite putting together a solid roster, they suffered a nine game losing streak during the year leaving them on the outside of the top 10 looking in.
EAST
WOMEN
Lead Contenders…
Manly or Norths? The run home features what looks like the closest to a grand final preview as we’re going to get across the country.
Jaz Shelley and her Bears have been sensational. Unbeaten at the time of writing and answering every challenge that comes their way. Of course, Shelley will have Geelong’s 2025 in the back of her mind, losing their only game of the year in the grand final.
The Sea Eagles are the clear top challengers, having also seperate themselves from the rest of the pack. We deserve a Norths vs Manly grand final, but we know ANYTHING can happen in playoff basketball.
Dark Horse…
Albury-Wodonga are hitting form at the right time and could surprise some people in the postseason. They’ve won five in a row and the combination of Emily Lytle and Unique Thompson is a force to be reckoned with. The Bandits also showed in June they can compete with the top tier teams, matching it with Manly for most of what ultimately ended as a loss.
Tough year for…
The Bulls are going to end this season winless. Their final two games of the regular season are against Norths and then Manly. Brutal.
As a team Inner West just haven’t been able to match it with anyone. The closest they got was early in the season against Penrith. However, despite keeping the Panthers to just 58 points they still went down by nine points.
MEN
Lead Contenders…
Illawarra and Norths look to have locked up the top two spots in the men’s division of the East. They have both been stunningly strong at home, combining for a 16-1 record when hosting in 2026.
The other side worth noting is Sutherland. They’ve won six straight to turn their 5-6 mid-season record to a formidable 11-6 position. The other standout for the Sharks is their ability to win away from. They are 8-2 on the road this season and will have to keep winning games in opposition venues if they want to win the title.
Dark Horse…
Never write off a champion.
The Gunners might be in the midst of a five-game slide but they have a couple of very winnable games to end the season and we all know what they are capable of doing in a postseason.
They will need someone to come with Will Mayfield, but there are plenty of options who have the ability to do so on any given day.
Tough year for…
It will be difficult for Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai not to think what could have been if Davo Hickey played the entire season. He averaged 20 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists across his six games, helping the Spiders win three of their games, which makes up half of their victories in 2026.
CENTRAL
WOMEN
Lead Contenders…
A second championship in five years? It’s a real possibility for West Adelaide, who have been near-on untouchable so far this season. They are the top scoring team in the country, averaging a ridiculous 97 points per game thanks to the offensive firepower of Morgan Yaeger, Alex Ciabattoni and Co.
Sturt are the only team really in their stratosphere, having put together a strong season that has them essentially locked into second place.
Dark Horse…
They say defence wins championships and Forestville have one of the best in the country. They rank in the top 15 in both points allowed per game and defensive rating. The Eagles are also the only team to beat West Adelaide at the moment so don’t write them off.
Tough year for…
It seems a long time ago that the Eastern Mavericks were 1-1 to start the season. Since then they have lost 15 straight games and have lost touch with the rest of the league. A brutal 2026.
MEN
Lead Contenders…
It was a shock that the Eagles didn’t win the championship last season, but 2026 looks to be their year. They’ve only lost two games and their top players are all looking strong in their roles.
Sturt and South Adelaide make up the rest of the current top three and both look capable of going all the way.
Dark Horse…
Woodville have had an up and down year, but they are an elite defensive unit anchored by Bennett Sherry and Leverenzel Booth Jr who are both averaging just under two blocks per game. If they can find a better rhythm offensively they could wreak some havoc in the postseason.
Tough year for…
The Southern Tigers are another team in the NBL1 that just been unable to maintain pace with the rest of their division. At 2-5 they didn’t seem that far off the rest of the competition, but 10 straight losses has them fixed to the bottom of the ladder.
NORTH
WOMEN
Lead Contenders…
Most of the talk throughout the year was around Cairns and their incredible unbeaten run, but now top spot in the North has been taken by Logan, a place they are very familiar with.
Last year’s champions have once again been brilliantly led by coach Aja Parham-Ammar and captain Mikhaela Cann. Between them and the Dolphins it feels as though the North will have their champion.
Dark Horse…
They do sit in third place so it’s difficult to place them as a dark horse, but the Spartans are a strong defensive unit who have a proven record on the road. They are unbeaten (7-0) when playing in enemy territory and with Jess McDowell-White always on triple-double watch, don’t rule them out.
Tough year for…
At 2-4 through the first six games, the Brisbane Capitals might have thought 2026 was salvageable. However, they then lost seven of their next eight games, leading them to the equal-worst record in the league.
MEN
Lead Contenders…
Always tough to go past an undefeated team. Cairns are having a season to remember and are clearly the team to beat heading into the playoffs. Kody Stattman has been playing at an elite level and his support cast of Kobe McDowell-White, Luca Yates, and Amarco Doyle are top tier.
The rest of the top four remain a threat, but let’s not kid ourselves, Gold Coast, Logan and Sunshine Coast are the chasers and will need to cause an upset to secure the championship.
Dark Horse…
Across their last seven games, Mackay’s only two losses have come at the hands of Cairns. They are a team that does it by committee, plenty of contributors all capable of stepping up when their number is called. Keep your eye on them.
Tough year for…
It just never quite clicked for Northside this season. They have shown plenty offensively, with Quinton Dove and Tyler Williams delivering on that end of the floor. However, the team’s defence just hasn’t provided the same output, ranking inside the bottom 15 teams across the country.
WEST
WOMEN
Lead Contenders…
Did someone say back-to-back?
Cockburn have lost just the two games this season, mostly thanks to their high-powered offence which ranks inside the top 10 across the NBL1.
Warwick are one of the two teams to beat them in 2026 and should be a serious factor in the postseason. Chloe Forster has once again done plenty for the Senators, but she’s had plenty of help in an outfit that is capable of winning it all.
Dark Horse…
If they can sneak into the finals, Joondalup could cause some headaches in the postseason. They are the other side to beat the Cougars and have shown glimpses of brilliance across the season. If Kimberley Pierre-Louis is dominating they could cause some upsets.
Tough year for…
Perth are hitting some great form, but it might be a case of too little, too late. They still need to win out the rest of the season to sneak into the finals, and even then it will be a tough hill to climb from there. And then of course there is the thought of what could have been if Anneli Maley stayed the whole season, but of course she went onto bigger things in the WNBA.
MEN
Lead Contenders…
Since starting the season 3-2, Geraldton have been on an absolute tear. They now sit 13-3 and with Devondrick Walker building into the playoffs nicely.
Rockingham and Joondalup make up the rest of the top three, but the Buccaneers look to be the slight favourites.
Dark Horse…
Marley Sam has been one of the stories of the NBL1 this season and his ability to get hot in a hurry has the Eastern Suns marked as a danger team as we head into the postseason.
They also are one of just three teams to knock over the Flames this year, meaning they are more than capable of claiming a big scalp.
Tough year for…
Sadly for the South West Slammers they find themselves disconnected from the rest of the league. They sit bottom of the ladder, three wins behind the next closest team. Philmon Gebrhiwet has had a solid year but hasn’t had much help, leading to just a 2-17 record.