NBL vs NBL1 vs WNBL: Australian Basketball Leagues Explained
The difference between the NBL, NBL1 and WNBL, and where the New Zealand NBL, the Boomers and the Opals fit in. A quick guide to Australian basketball's competitions.
Updated
Australian basketball has several competitions with similar names, and they are easy to mix up. Here is how they fit together.
The leagues at a glance
| Competition | What it is | When it's played |
|---|---|---|
| NBL | Top professional men's league, ten clubs across Australia and New Zealand | September to March |
| WNBL | Top professional women's league in Australia | Summer, roughly alongside the NBL |
| NBL1 | Semi-professional men's and women's leagues organised in regional conferences | Winter, roughly March to August |
| New Zealand NBL | New Zealand's own domestic men's league, separate from the Breakers | New Zealand winter |
NBL: the top men's league
The National Basketball League has been Australia's top men's competition since 1979. It is fully professional, runs through the summer and is the league this site covers: the ladder, the fixture, the stats and a page for every team and player.
WNBL: the top women's league
The Women's National Basketball League is Australia's top women's competition and has been played since the early 1980s. It is run separately from the NBL, and many of its players represent Australia as the Opals. Its season also runs in the summer.
NBL1: the level below
NBL1 is a semi-professional competition with men's and women's leagues, split into regional conferences around the country. It launched in 2019 and replaced several older state-based competitions. Because it is played in the winter, when the NBL is in its off-season, NBL1 is a place for young players to develop, for fringe NBL players to stay sharp, and for some NBL players to keep playing between seasons. Conference winners meet in a national finals series.
Despite the name, NBL1 is not a reserves league for NBL clubs. Its teams are separate, local clubs.
New Zealand's NBL
New Zealand has its own domestic league, also called the National Basketball League, which is played during the New Zealand winter. It is a different competition from the Australian NBL. New Zealand's representative in the Australian NBL is the New Zealand Breakers.
Where the national teams fit
The Boomers (men) and the Opals (women) are Australia's national teams. They play in FIBA competitions such as the Olympics, the World Cup and the Asia Cup, under the same FIBA rules as the NBL. Many Boomers have come through the NBL, and some international windows fall during the NBL season.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the NBL and NBL1?
The NBL is Australia's top professional men's league, played in summer with ten clubs. NBL1 is a semi-professional men's and women's competition split into regional conferences and played in winter.
Is the WNBL part of the NBL?
No. The WNBL is Australia's top women's basketball league and is run separately from the NBL.
Is the New Zealand NBL the same as the Australian NBL?
No. New Zealand's National Basketball League is a separate domestic competition played in the New Zealand winter. The New Zealand Breakers represent New Zealand in the Australian NBL.
Keep reading
- Start hereWhat Is the NBL? A Beginner's Guide to Australia's Basketball League
- Season explainerHow the NBL Season and Finals Work: Ladder, Play-In and Grand Final
- Watch guideHow to Watch the NBL in 2026–27: TV, Streaming and Free-to-Air Games
- HistoryNBL Champions List: Every Grand Final Winner Since 1979
- ClubsNBL Teams and Arenas: Every Club, City and Home Court
- Rules explainerNBL vs NBA Rules: Every Key Difference Explained
- Program explainerNBL Next Stars: How the NBL Became a Pathway to the NBA Draft
- Stats glossaryBasketball Stats Explained: TS%, eFG%, Game Score, Usage and the Four Factors