Two wins on the weekend mean Ipswich will top the standings heading into 2024, whilst they also booked a place in January's National Cup final to cap an excellent couple of days for the Suffolk club.
We take a look back at all of the action below, with links to live stats and live streams at the bottom of the page.
Team Solent Kestrels couldn't maintain their recent momentum, falling on the road against Bristol 69-38.
After picking up their first win of the campaign earlier this month, Solent couldn't continue that run in a low-scoring contest against the Flyers, who move into the top six following the victory.
Leading for almost the entirety of the contest, Bristol slowly grew their advantage the longer the game wore on thanks to 25 points from Cristina Bigica.
The Flyers' forward was supported well by Kim Kheing, Hannah Wallace and Leila Jepson, who all had 10 points.
Tilly Goddard's 18 points and nine rebounds was a lone bright spot for the Kestrels as they finish 2023 at the bottom of the standings, with the margin to safety at six points.
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Going into the Christmas break with a W 💪🎄
— Bristol Flyers Women (@FlyersWomen) December 16, 2023
Boxscore >> https://t.co/C6r9G6An6z
📸: @BMEastPhotos pic.twitter.com/J1ZBTO5RGF
Leaders Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (10-1) started their weekend with a hard-fought victory against Loughborough Riders (7-5), winning 90-81.
The hosts were able to keep their opponents at arm's length for the duration, with the difference between the sides generally floating between five and ten points thanks to a 29-point outing from Harriet Welham.
A tough 2023 came to a close for City of Birmingham Rockets (2-8) as they lost out 48-42 against Anglia Ruskin University (4-8).
A 17-7 final quarter doomed the hosts as ARU's Kasia Neininger's 11-point, nine-rebound effort made a big difference in a low-scoring game.
The weekend got even better for leaders Ipswich as their closest challengers CoLA Southwark Pride (7-3) suffered a surprise defeat to Manchester Mystics (5-6), going down 57-41.
CoLA scored just 11 points across the second and third quarters as their offence went missing, leaving Rehana Khalil (20pts, 9reb) and Manchester to run away with a huge home win.
This year's WNBL National Cup finalists are now decided following two huge semi-finals yesterday.
Endeavour Ipswich Basketball came from behind to beat D2's Sheffield Hatters II, turning a 64-55 third quarter deficit into an 81-77 win.
Young guard Yazmin Edwards showed off her talents with a game-high 28 points on 12/14 shooting, with teammate Harriet Welham adding 22 points and eight boards.
Helen Naylor (25pts, 7ast, 6reb) led the way for Sheffield, who were left wondering what might have been after matching the D1W leaders before coming up just short.
In a rematch of last season's final, Thames Valley triumphed once again as they beat Reading Rockets 78-74.
In what was a hard-fought and tense contest, it was the Cavs who just had their noses ahead come the final buzzer to keep their Cup defence alive.
Trailing 54-42 going into the last, the Rockets rallied hard to win the fourth 32-24, but it wouldn't be enough.
National Cup Finals 2023/24 - buy your tickets now and get 10% off!
— NBL (@NBLengland) November 28, 2023
🎟️ https://t.co/LoAEMfIcba#NBL2324 pic.twitter.com/6BlvEdGH0d
3pm - Bristol Academy Flyers 69-38 Team Solent Kestrels - LIVE STATS
3:30pm - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 90-81 Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS
5pm - City of Birmingham Rockets 42-48 Anglia Ruskin University - LIVE STATS
D1W - 2:15pm - Manchester Mystics 57-41 CoLA Southwark Pride - LIVE STATS
National Cup - 3:30pm - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 81-77 Sheffield Hatters II - LIVE STATS
National Cup - 4pm - Thames Valley Cavaliers 78-74 Reading Rockets
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Main image credit - B.East Photography
