It’s that time of year already.
The NBL1 National Finals are back once again, this time heading to Adelaide to decide who sits atop the mountain.
The champions (or in one case the runners-up) for each conference make up the bulk of the competitors, with last year’s two champions filling the final two spots.
From untouchable teams to star players and squads looking to break historic droughts, here is your ultimate guide to the 2026 NBL1 National Finals.
2025 CHAMPIONS
Women | Knox Raiders
2026 Record: 21-4 (def. Waverley 80-54 in SOUTH GF)
Key Players: Alicia FROLING (16.1p/11.8r/1.9a), Paige BRADLEY (15.1p/4.2r/6.9a), Agnes EMMA-NNOPU (10.4p/8.4r/2.3a)
Start engraving the trophy.
Knox went back-to-back in the South and look close to a certainty to do it again at the national level. They are stacked across the floor and play a hard-nosed brand of basketball that suits tournaments like these.
To copy a line from last year… if anyone gets within 15 points it will be impressive.
Men | Canberra Gunners
2026 Record: 12-9 (eliminated in elimination final)
Key Players: Will MAYFIELD (18.2p/8.4r/3.6a), Theus Evan WARDLOW (10.9p/2.8r/3.9a), Cameron PENDER (10.7p/8.4r/2.2a)
2026 wasn’t quite the year the Gunners were hoping for but having claimed national glory in front of their home fans last year, they book themselves a ticket to Adelaide.
Will Mayfield will once again be their heartbeat and their experience at this level could help them cause an upset, but it seems unlikely that they will go back-to-back.
SOUTH
Women | Waverley Falcons (Runners-up to Knox)
2026 Record: 17-8 (lost to Knox 54-80 in GF)
Key Players: Katelyn SHUMATE (14p/6.8r/2.7a), Amelia TODHUNTER (9p/3.2r/3.6a), Carley ERNST (6.2p/4.2r/2a)
Waverley’s Cinderella story didn’t quite have the fairytale ending they were hoping for, but for the third year in a row they will head to the National Finals.
With Knox having an automatic spot booked due to winning in 2025, the Falcons get the nod. Sadly for them they had to play the South grand final without Sophia Locandro, Maddi Utti, and Tayla Dalton. Without them in Adelaide they will be up against it, but the return of Carley Ernst in the back end of the season will give them a chance of making the final.
Men | Frankston Blues
2026 Record: 18-7 (def. Eltham 78-75 in GF)
Key Players: Jeremy COMBS (20.3p/8.3r/2.4a), Dibaji WALKER (16.4p/5.1r/51.8% FG), Lucas BARKER (7.4p/4.1r/4.3a)
Frankston won an absolute thriller in the South decider to secure their place in the National Finals.
They are likely to go into the tournament without Dan Trist and Austin Shelley, with the former having missed the grand final completely due to a knee injury and Shelley playing heavily hampered with what was believed to be a broken hand suffered in training with Melbourne United in the lead-up.
However, the Blues are still a very strong side, with import duo Jeremy Combs and Dibaji Walker capable of filling it up and floor general Lucas Barker one of the smartest true point guards of the NBL1.
CENTRAL
Women | Sturt Sabres
2026 Record: 18-4 (def. West Adelaide 76-70 in GF)
Key Players: Tayla BRAZEL (16.8p/8.5r/3.7a), Paige PADROTH (12.3p/3.3r/2.2a), Nicola MATTHEWS (11.7p/4.4r/3.4a)
Defence, defence, defence. That’s what Sturt based their championship run on, ranking second in the country for points allowed per game (62.9) and defensive rating (78). It will be the key for them at Nationals as well, as they welcome the country’s best to their home.
Tayla Brazel is a superstar of the league, winning the Merv Harris Award for best U23 player and being named in the All-Star Five. She will need to be at her very best for the Sabres to make history as the first winners from the Central conference. However, sadly for Sturt they’ve drawn Knox in their opener
Photo credit: NBL1
Men | Forestville Eagles
2026 Record: 18-3 (def. South Adelaide 77-58 in GF)
Key Players: Greg MAYS (20.7p/7.3r/55% FG), Jordan FORBES (17.7p/5.8r/6.2a), Daniel JOHNSON (16.2p/6.5r/4.2a)
If a team is going to break the Central drought at Nationals, it’s this team.
Stacked with talent that is unlikely to be taken away by NBL duties, the Eagles were expected to be involved in the final weekend of the year in 2025, but suffered a shock loss in the playoffs. They made up for it in this campaign and are a serious threat for the men’s title.
EAST
Women | Bankstown Bruins
2026 Record: 19-4 (def. Manly 90-85 in GF)
Key Players: Shyla HEAL (24.1p/5.5r/5.9a), Tahlia TUPAEA (14.3p/6.5r/4a), Margot DE FREITAS (14.7p/5.8r/1.8a)
Any team spearheaded by Shyla Heal is capable of wreaking havoc. Heal is a handful to guard no matter where in the country you’re from.
She is supported well by Margot De Freitas, Tahlia Tupaea, and Kiahna Davis-White who are all capable of having a big impact. They might have a tough time taking it to Knox, but they should be very competitive against the rest of the competition.
Men | Norths Bears
2026 Record: 19-4 (def. Sutherland 76-64 in GF)
Key Players: Lachlan BOFINGER (16.5p/9.3r/2.6a), Fabijan KRSLOVIC (14.8p/9.2r/3.3a), Ignatius MITCHELL (13.3p/6.3r/2.4a)
Photo credit: NBL1
Norths were statistically the number one men’s defensive team across the country.
They ranked first in points allowed per game (75.7) and second in defensive rating (2nd), and were brilliantly anchored by Melbourne United big man Fabijan Krslovic.
Obviously there hopes will hinge on the availability of their NBL players; Krslovic, Hunter Goodrick and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk. But if they all suit up they could make things happen.
NORTH
Women | Mackay Meteorettes
2026 Record: 15-6 (def. Townsville 2-1 in GF series)
Key Players: River BALDWIN (17.7p/9.4r/2a), Monique BOBONGIE (17.5p/6.9r/3.8a), Cheyenne BOBONGIE (11.6p/4r/6.1a)
Mackay stunned just about everyone when they claimed victory in the NBL1 North grand final series against Townsville, despite having to play the entirety of the series away from home.
They have a high-powered offence ranked third in the league in scoring (91.4) and fifth in offensive rating (113.3), and rely heavily on the Bobongie cousins Monique and Cheyenne.
They’ve had an incredible season but Mackay doesn’t look to be a team that will make it to the decider.
Men | Gold Coast Rollers
2026 Record: 17-2 (def. Ipswich 2-0 in GF series)
Key Players: Jimmy WHITT (24.1p/4.3r/3.6s), Preston LE GASSICK (22.8p/6.1r/7.7a), Jensen BRADTKE (21.4p/9.8r/2.7a)
What a team.
The Rollers offense has more horsepower than an American muscle car show, ranking first nationally in points (113.8) and offensive rating (130.3). They had five players average double digit scoring, with three of those averaging at least 21 points per game.
The Jimmy Whitt-Preston Le Gassick combination should be one of the top watches at the Nationals and with them the Rollers look to be a genuine chance.
WEST
Women | Warwick Senators
2026 Record: 17-7 (def. Cockburn 102-76 in GF)
Key Players: Chloe FORSTER (19.3p/6.3r/5.5a), Jayda CLARK (17.8p/6.3r/4.7a), Mackenzie CLINCH HOYCARD (15.2p/7.5r/3.7a),
The Senators women in the National Finals? It’s almost a given these days.
For the fourth time in five years the Warwick team are heading to the big dance, looking to replicate their historic 2022 title.
There are a number of familiar faces returning, with this well oiled machine just knowing how to get the job done. Opposition defences will need to be ready to run them off the three point line, ranking 10th in percentage of shots taken from deep (44.5%), and second in converting those attempts (37.5%)
They should be involved in the business end of the tournament.
Men | Rockingham Flames
2026 Record: 20-4 (def. Geraldton 66-62 in GF)
Key Players: Isaac WHITE (26.2p/5.1r/4.9a), Emmett NAAR (11p/4.2r/9.1a), Blake JONES (17.6p/10.5r/62% FG)
The Senators aren’t the only returning 2022 NBL1 National Champions from the West, with the Rockingham Flames also back in the big dance.
Isaac White has had an all-time season and Emmett Naar remains one of my all-time favourite NBL1 players. Sadly for the Flames Michael Harris hasn’t played since July 18.
A top 20 defence and a top 10 offence nationally, the Flames are an excellent squad who should be competitive in the fight for the title.