2025 NBL1 South Season Wrap

The 2025 NBL1 South season has been one of growth, connection and celebration for our league, players, clubs and communities.

This year we witnessed Knox Raiders crowned as NBL1 South Women’s Champions and the Sandringham Sabres lifting the Men’s Championship trophy. Both teams went on to represent NBL1 South at the National Finals in Canberra, joined by the 2024 NBL1 National Final defending champions Waverley Falcons Women. It was the Knox Raiders Women who emerged as NBL1 National Champions, showcasing the strength and quality of South Conference basketball on the national stage.

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The season was also highlighted by incredible events that brought our community together. The NBL1 South Pre Season Blitz set the tone for the year, the Awards Night celebrated the league’s best on and off the floor and the Grand Final Day delivered a fitting showcase of the competition at its very best. We also saw an NBL1 South Select Team travel to Mount Gambier to take on the Adelaide 36ers, another highlight in showcasing the talent and profile of the league.

On court, the level of competition was as fierce as ever with 15 of 19 clubs qualifying for finals. Geelong United Women created history as the only team to go undefeated through the NBL1 South 2025 regular season.

Off court, we continued to recognise the contribution of our referees, scoretable officials and statisticians whose work ensures every game is delivered at the highest level. The celebration of Local Legends was another proud feature, with both male and female community heroes recognised weekly for their impact across the South Conference.

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Throughout the season we came together in shared recognition of important causes and community moments. ANZAC Round, First Nations Round, Heritage Round and Mental Health Round again served as reminders that NBL1 is more than a competition. It is a platform for education, respect and unity. Our growing partnership with RSL Victoria strengthened ANZAC Round, providing new opportunities to connect basketball with the wider community.

Importantly, this season marked a clear step forward in engagement. Game attendances increased, live streaming audiences grew and the overall profile of NBL1 South continued to rise. The most watched regular season live stream were the Round 3 Ringwood v Nunawading clashes, underlining the passion and interest that exists across the league.

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NBL1 South League Manager Alison Cody expressed her gratitude:

“This season has been an incredible journey, and it simply would not be possible without the commitment of our players, coaches, support staff, administrators, referees, scoretable officials, statisticians, clubs and Associations. Their dedication both on and off the court continues to drive the growth of NBL1 South, and we thank every single person who played their part in making 2025 such a success.”

To all who contributed to the 2025 season, thank you. Your passion and hard work have cemented another milestone year for NBL1 South. This year also marks the conclusion of the fifth NBL1 season, and NBL1 South proudly stands as the only conference to have reached that milestone. We will be celebrating this achievement over the coming months and look forward to all the club announcements ahead of the 2026 season.