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18 September 2026  4 min read

WNBL D1 Preview (19/20 Sep 2026) - Live Stats, streaming, quotes and more

Five games, all on Saturday, form the first weekend of the new season, with defending champions Anglia Ruskin University making the trip to last year's WNBL National Cup winners Manchester Mystics.

Our 2025/26 regular-season winners London Cavaliers have a tough road trip against Endeavour Ipswich Bobcats in what could be the pick of the weekend's games.

Elsewhere, newly promoted sides Barking Abbey and Milton Keynes Breakers are both in action and hoping to get their campaigns off to a positive start, but the other new addition, East London Phoenix, will have to wait for their debut.

Saturday 19 September 2026

2:30pm - Barking Abbey vs Bristol Flyers - LIVE STATS

3pm - London All Stars vs CoLA Southwark Pride - LIVE STATS

5pm - Manchester Mystics vs Anglia Ruskin University - LIVE STATS

5:30pm - Endeavour Ipswich Bobcats vs London Cavaliers - LIVE STATS

6pm - Worcester Wolves vs Milton Keynes Breakers - LIVE STATS

View all the fixtures for this weekend

Anglia Ruskin captured the 2025/26 D1W title

Former champs aiming for glory

ARU start their defence with a trip to Manchester Mystics and retain the likes of Faye Parker and finals MVP Iilaria Zaffaroni, plus Kaiya Bateman has moved over from Ipswich, but standout Tia Freeman has departed for the SLBW and will be a big loss.

Former D1W winners CoLA are embracing their usual roster turnover as an Academy-based programme. Ayla Habbal (George Washington), Debra Wilson-Osuide (Loyola Maryland), Chloe Vella (Columbia), Eva-Grace Yebila (Maryland) and Adaora Dioramma (Gulf Coast State) have all departed, clearing the way for increased roles for Bade Isik, Anya Scruton and others as Pride try to knock off London All Stars to get their season underway.

Last year's league winners London Cavaliers have a tough trip to Ipswich to face the Bobcats, with returnees Janice Monakana and captain Mrashi Karumba-Roberts and Co not wanting to lose any early ground in the title race. Standout Chinwe Iwunze is expected to move on from the Cavs though and is a tough player to replace.

Players coming and going

A busy off-season once again means that it's not easy to draw any early conclusions about how 2026/27 might go.

Ipswich have taken a big hit with the departures of Maya Price (SLBW), Maisie Keyes, Ashleigh Pink and Holly Ensoll (USA) plus Kaiya Bateman (ARU). That'll put plenty on the shoulders of long-time captain Harriet Welham, plus new signings Katie Bennett, Anna Mendez and Nikita Cornford.

Manchester have lost the experience of Rehana Khalil (retired) and the defensive prowess of Success Odemwingie, who heads to the SLBW, but the return of youth product Carina Costa from the States will be a plus.

Last season's Player of the Year, Ciani Montgomery, returns for Worcester and is joined by former Barking standout Megan Verbeeten plus BA academy graduates Tanaie Irish and Paula Mendes.

BA's own hopes for the season are likely to sit with former D2 MVP Kamilah Yakabu and WEABL U17 Player of the Year Sharliyah Sutherland. 

Another WEABL standout, Faith Deakin, will be a key player for Milton Keynes alongside Lauren Dabbs, Vanessa Obanor and Courtney Gray, while Kya Whyne, Itziar Fernadez, Elizabeth Esan and Naomi McKenzie will all be in the mix for Phoenix as they try to stick in D1W as well.

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