All 12 of the league's teams are in action once again, with leaders Ipswich, CoLA and Brent all trying to keep pace at the top.
Ipswich head to Manchester, CoLA host strugglers Reading and Brent entertain top-four Anglia Ruskin in Sunday's only game.
Basketball England has invited all clubs with teams participating in the NBL, WNBL, Jnr. NBL this weekend (8/9 February 2025) to hold a minute’s silence to pay respects five cherished individuals from the basketball community who have passed away recently.
Makyle Bayley, 22, Eva Darold-Tchikaya, 21, TJ Hibbert, 24 and Daljang 'DJ' Wol, 22 of Essex University died in a road accident last weekend. Idryck Wilkinson of Brixton Topcats and formerly Itchen College Basketball Academy also passed away recently.
Ipswich's bid to defend their regular-season crown continues on Saturday as they head to the North West to take on Manchester Mystics.
With CoLA and Brent both joining the Suffolk side at the summit of D1W, Coach Drane's side can't afford any slip ups if they're to stay the course and secure top spot for the fourth time in six seasons.
Manchester were easily beaten 80-51 at Copleston when the sides last met in early November, with Harriet Welham pouring in a game-high 30 points to down the visitors.
It's a problem Manchester couldn't solve that day, and in truth, it's something few in D1W have been able to handle in recent times. Welham remains the league's top scorer this term with 23.6PPG.
Maddy Wormald (16.2PPG, 10.7RPG) has been solid in her debut WNBL season, with Louisa Gibbins (12.4PPG, 10.6RPG) also offering plenty of support in her final season with the club before departing to continue her journey at the University of Vermont.
Manchester aren't shy of match-winners themselves, but they'll need to get every ounce from their roster to slow down the visitors.
Elizandra Costa (11.5PPG), Irene Oboavwoduo (11.1PPG) and Kizzy Spence-Mussington (10.2PPG) feature as the Mystics' top three scoring options, with Oboavwoduo also providing a team-high 8.1RPG.
Rehana Khalil offers a well-rounded threat in support, averaging 9.0PPG, 6.9RPG, 3.3APG and 3.5SPG, with the ability to get hot in any of those categories.
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Cobham Cobras (6-9) have the opportunity to keep the pressure on Barking Abbey (1-12) to start the weekend, with BA now eight points off potential safety with nine games to go.
It's a similar plight facing Reading Rockets (1-13), though they have one less game to work with and a very difficult trip to co-leaders CoLA Southwark Pride (11-2).
Worcester Wolves (5-8) picked up a stunning road win against Loughborough last time out thanks to a FocusHoops' Player of the Week performance from Carolina Marques. A home tilt against London Cavaliers (6-7) awaits the Wolves next as they try to push on for a shot at the playoffs.
Bristol Academy Flyers (8-7) were another side enjoying an individual standout performance last weekend as Samanatha Roscoe began her injury comeback with a lights-out display against Cobham.
Roscoe and the Flyers host Loughborough Riders (7-6) in Saturday's only other game, with the Riders hoping to keep themselves in the top eight after just one win in their last four.
Sunday contains one game, with the third team in D1W's jam at the summit, Brent Bulls (11-2), hosting Anglia Ruskin University (9-6).
Brent's Judit Fritz and Lindsey Cleary combined for 104 points across the Bulls' two games last weekend, and that's sure to provide a difficult test for the league's seventh best defence (65.8PPG allowed).
1pm - Cobham Cobras vs Barking Abbey - LIVE STATS
2:15pm - CoLA Southwark Pride vs Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS
5pm - Worcester Wolves vs London Cavaliers - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
5:30pm - Manchester Mystics vs Endeavour Ipswich Basketball - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
5:30pm - Bristol Academy Flyers vs Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS
3pm - Brent Bulls vs Anglia Ruskin University - LIVE STATS
Live stream details will be added as they become available
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Main image credit - Flo Alalade
