Four Games, Four Chances: NBL1 South Women’s Semi-finals Arrive

The 2026 NBL1 South Women’s Finals move into their second weekend with four sudden death Semi-finals and no room for recovery.

Diamond Valley and Melbourne advanced through last weekend’s Elimination Finals. They now meet the six teams that earned an opening weekend bye through their regular season finishing positions.

By Sunday afternoon, the championship field will be reduced to four teams.

Semi-Final 1
Eltham Wildcats vs Diamond Valley Eagles

Saturday 1 August | 6:00pm AEST
Montmorency Secondary College

Eltham begins its finals campaign at home with one of the competition’s most decorated rotations.

Lil Dart (21.18 PPG, 4.55 APG, 3.14 3PM) earned NBL1 South First Team selection, while Sarah Elsworthy (5.22 APG, 2.33 SPG) received the Women’s Kelly Wilson Golden Hands Award.

Inside, Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Rebecca Pizzey (13.0 PPG, 10.68 RPG, 1.41 BPG) combines with Sara-Rose Smith (9.41 PPG, 8.73 RPG) to give the Wildcats a significant rebounding presence. Eltham’s regular season performance also earned Matt Bongetti the Women’s Coach of the Year award.

Diamond Valley advanced with a 99 to 85 victory over Ballarat behind a remarkable performance from Abbey Ellis.

Ellis scored 40 points with seven assists, shooting 14/23 from the field and 7/14 from three point range. Ellis (23.95 PPG, 3.86 APG, 3.52 3PM) earned NBL1 South First Team selection following an outstanding regular season.

Alex Sharp (14.14 PPG, 8.81 RPG, 3.67 APG) gives the Eagles an important presence at both ends, while Erin Riley (12.91 PPG, 4.48 APG, 2.04 SPG) and Shannon Dufficy provide further playmaking and shooting.

The teams split their regular season series. Diamond Valley won 103 to 95 in Round 1 before Eltham responded with an 82 to 81 victory at Montmorency in Round 9.

The first meeting produced 198 combined points and the second was decided by one. With Dart and Ellis leading the perimeter scoring and Pizzey and Sharp influencing the interior contest, neither team enters with a clear season series advantage.

Semi-Final 2
Knox Raiders vs Melbourne Tigers

Saturday 1 August | 7:00pm AEST
State Basketball Centre

Knox begins its finals campaign at home after finishing on top of the women’s standings and completing the regular season on a 13 game winning streak.

Alicia Froling (15.90 PPG, 11.40 RPG, 1.45 BPG) earned NBL1 South Second Team selection and gives the Raiders a significant interior presence.

Paige Bradley (14.32 PPG, 6.59 APG) directs the offence, Shaneice Swain (13.08 PPG, 2.17 3PM) provides perimeter scoring and Haleigh Reinoehl (12.19 PPG, 6.44 RPG) adds another frontcourt option.

Melbourne advanced with a 75 to 61 victory over Mount Gambier, recording the club’s first NBL1 finals win after finishing the game on a 16 to two run.

However, the Tigers will face Knox without Shuyu Yang and Mingling Chen, who have returned to China for national team duties.

Yang (19.29 PPG, 4.76 APG, 3.76 RPG, 2.76 3PM) and Chen (14.32 PPG, 4.79 RPG, 2.53 APG) combined for 33.61 points, 8.55 rebounds and 7.29 assists per game during the regular season.

Yang scored 26 points in last weekend’s victory, while Chen added 13 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.

The responsibility now shifts towards Isabella Brancatisano (12.91 PPG, 5.39 RPG, 3.91 APG), Hannah Giddey and the remainder of Melbourne’s rotation.

Knox will look to use its continuity and interior strength through Froling and Reinoehl. Melbourne must establish a new offensive structure while finding a collective answer to Bradley and the competition’s leading team.

Semi-Final 3
Keilor Thunder vs Sandringham Sabres

Saturday 1 August | 7:00pm AEST
Keilor Stadium

Keilor enters with three of the competition’s most productive players across the perimeter and frontcourt.

Maddison Rocci (23.20 PPG, 8.53 APG, 8.0 RPG) earned NBL1 South Second Team selection, while Isabelle Bourne (21.67 PPG, 8.08 RPG, 1.58 BPG) was selected in the NBL1 South First Team.

Lara McSpadden (17.38 PPG, 8.44 RPG, 53 per cent FG) gives the Thunder a third major scorer and rebounder. She returns to the lineup this week with a Commonwealth Games gold medal after representing the 3x3 Women’s Gangurrus in Glasgow.

Sandringham counters with its own collection of recognised performers.

Stephanie Reid (19.36 PPG, 5.93 APG, 2.07 SPG) earned NBL1 South First Team selection, while Madison Ryan (17.67 PPG, 7.08 RPG) was named the Women’s Youth Player of the Year and selected in the NBL1 South Second Team.

Funda Nakkasoglu (18.18 PPG, 1.91 3PM) provides another experienced scorer, while Klara Wischer (14.50 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.40 SPG) leads the Sabres on the glass.

The teams split their regular season series, with the visiting team winning both contests. Sandringham won 65 to 52 at Keilor Stadium in Round 3 before the Thunder responded with an 82 to 63 victory at Southern Basketball Stadium in Round 10.

Keilor reversed the opening result by 32 points, but Sandringham has already demonstrated it can win at the venue hosting the Semi-final. Rocci and Reid lead two high level backcourts, while the work of Bourne, McSpadden, Ryan and Wischer around the basket could provide the separation.

Semi-Final 4
Waverley Falcons vs Casey Cavaliers

Sunday 2 August | 1:00pm AEST
Waverley Basketball Centre

Waverley enters the final game of the weekend with a balanced rotation led by Katelyn Shumate (14.24 PPG, 6.47 RPG, 1.76 3PM).

Sophia Locandro (12.47 PPG, 6.26 RPG, 0.95 BPG) provides a presence at both ends, while Amelia Todhunter (10.40 PPG, 4.10 APG) leads Waverley’s playmaking.

Tayla Dalton (10.77 PPG, 4.0 APG, 2.50 SPG) adds another creator and leads the Falcons in steals.

Casey counters with the league’s MVP and leading rebounder.

Dallas Loughridge (25.84 PPG, 5.26 APG, 3.89 3PM) won the Women’s MVP and Leading Scorer awards while earning NBL1 South First Team selection.

Samantha Bowman (16.15 PPG, 13.05 RPG, 1.10 BPG) finished as the competition’s leading rebounder, while Chelsea D’Angelo (15.27 PPG, 4.77 APG, 2.18 SPG) adds scoring, creation and defensive pressure. Nyadouth Lok (16.67 PPG, 5.92 RPG, 2.75 3PM) provides another offensive threat.

Casey won the teams’ regular season meeting 80 to 65 at Waverley Basketball Centre in Round 6 and now returns to the same venue.

Waverley must produce a different collective defensive response against Loughridge, Bowman, D’Angelo and Lok. Casey can take confidence from its earlier 15 point victory, while the Falcons enter rested and with their season now on the line.

Four games will decide the four remaining places in the 2026 NBL1 South Women’s championship race.

For Eltham, Knox, Keilor and Waverley, their regular season advantage now becomes a home sudden death contest. For Diamond Valley and Melbourne, last weekend’s Elimination Final victories provided momentum but no additional protection.

Every team is now one win from the final four and one loss from the end of its season.