WNBL1 preview: 25/26 January 2025 - live streams, stats and more

After taking last weekend off for the WNBL National Cup, D1W roars back into life with six games across the next two days.

Defending Cup champs Ipswich have a tough road battle against Anglia Ruskin, and fellow leaders CoLA Southwark Pride host Loughborough Riders.

We take a look at all the weekend's match-ups below, with links to live stats at the bottom of the page. 

Anglia Ruskin University (8-5) vs Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (9-3)

Anglia Ruskin get to take a shot at co-leaders Endeavour Ipswich Basketball this weekend as both teams continue their push towards the top of the standings.

Ipswich are on a high after their WNBL National Cup win in Manchester last weekend, striking a big blow against fellow title hopefuls Brent with an 81-53 victory.

The momentum may carry over, but all focus is now back on league play and a road game against ARU is a tough one to negotiate for most sides.

At 8-5, ARU are in the top four and tied on 16 points with the Bulls, but Ruskin's record against their fellow top four sides isn't a good one.

Losses at home to Brent and CoLA, plus away to Ipswich, account for three of the Cambridge outfit's five defeats so far, and represent a clear area of improvement if the 2018/19 champs are to return to their former glories.

That means tomorrow's clash represents another opportunity to establish ARU against top of the table opposition, with Tia Freeman front and centre of that drive.

Freeman (21.1PPG) and Izabelle Booth (17.8PPG) have formed a strong one-two partnership that's powered Ruskin so far, with more of the same expected tomorrow.

Cup Final MVP Harriet Welham (25.0PPG) is D1W's leading scorer for a reason though, and her production alongside the likes of Maddy Wormald (16.9PPG, 10.4RPG) and Louisa Gibbins (12.3PPG, 10.0RPG) continues to serve Ipswich well.

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Ipswich defended the WNBL National Cup in Manchester last weekend

Elsewhere this weekend

The weekend begins in Surrey as Cobham Cobras (5-8) host Worcester Wolves (4-7) as last season's two promoted sides go head-to-head once more.

Worcester won the first meeting between the two in October, and both have performed admirably in their maiden D1W season.

Manchester Mystics (6-7) need to take full advantage of a clash against strugglers Barking Abbey (1-10) tomorrow before their schedule turns, with the North West side taking on ARU, Ipswich and Brent in their next three games after that.

At 2-3 across their last five, London Cavaliers (5-6) are a team struggling to find their best form. Reading Rockets (1-11) will be hoping that gives them a shot at their second win of the season this weekend, especially after running the likes of Loughborough and Cobham close in recent weeks.

Sunday contains a pair of games to wrap things up, starting with CoLA Southwark Pride (9-2) entertaining Loughborough Riders (7-3).

With just three losses to their name so far, the Riders still have a shot of getting into the title conversation with a good run of form.

Winning at CoLA would be a good way to start that, though it's a feat few teams manage each season.

That just leaves an opportunity for defeated Cup finalists Brent Bulls (8-2) to bounce back from their disappointment in Manchester as they welcome Bristol Academy Flyers (7-6), who are still in the thick of the battle for playoff spots.

Brent's Lindsey Cleary in action

This weekend's fixtures:

Saturday 25 January

1pm - Cobham Cobras vs Worcester Wolves - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM

3pm - Manchester Mystics vs Barking Abbey - LIVE STATS

3:45pm - Anglia Ruskin University vs Endeavour Ipswich Basketball - LIVE STATS

6:45pm - Reading Rockets vs London Cavaliers - LIVE STATS

Sunday 26 January

2:30pm - CoLA Southwark Pride vs Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS

3pm - Brent Bulls vs Bristol Academy Flyers - LIVE STATS

Live stream details will be added as they become available

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