WBL Women (Netherlands) 2026/27

The Women's Basketball League (**WBL**) stands as the premier professional competition for female players in the Netherlands. Organized by **Basketball Nederland**, the body formerly known as the Nederlandse Basketball Bond (NBB), the tournament has operated under its current name since a rebranding in 2019. Prior to that change, the league competed as the Eredivisie, or Vrouwen Basketball League (VBL). Historical records indicate the national structure began in 1949, though some federation data points to 1955 for the first national women's competition.

The current season features ten teams competing in a format that blends a regular league phase with a knockout playoff stage. Regular season performance determines playoff qualification, with the top six sides advancing. The seeding process offers an advantage to the highest-ranked teams; the top two positions secure a bye directly into the semifinals. The remaining four participants enter best-of-three quarterfinal series to determine the final two semifinalists. Those surviving the earlier rounds progress to best-of-five series for the championship and third-place matches.

Grasshoppers Women claimed the title in the 2024–25 campaign. Historically, Blue Stars holds the record for success with 20 titles, while Den Helder Suns have won 16. The league structure differs from the men's top flight, the BNXT League, which operates as a joint Belgian-Dutch commercial entity. The WBL remains a purely national competition governed directly by the Dutch federation. Participation in the top tier is not strictly determined by sporting merit alone. Promotion from the second tier, the Promotiedivisie, depends on meeting specific licensing and financial criteria rather than automatic advancement based on league standings. This closed system ensures stability within the professional environment for the participating clubs.