NBL1 Weekend Preview: April 14

Each week across the entire NBL1 there are countless games to watch. So here are three specific games from Friday, Saturday and Sunday you can watch to get your hoops fix and keep up to date with the biggest stories across the league this weekend!

Friday: Willetton Tigers vs Perry Lakes Hawks 

We start the weekend off with a fantastic match-up of home-grown WA talent. 

Emma Clarke’s Perry Lakes Hawks will take on the formidable duo of Sami Whitcomb and Alex Sharp at Willetton. 

Whitcomb is making a short-stint in the NBL1 West before heading to Seattle for the WNBA season. But in her first game, she was everything we expected with 31 points, seven rebounds and five assists. We cannot forget the 2021 Finals MVP Alex Sharp, who in three games is averaging 22 points, 14 rebounds and three assists for the title-hopeful Tigers. 

They will face off against Emma Clarke, coming off a major season with the Sydney Flames in the WNBL where she averaged 4.6 points, the 23-year-old will be a tough match-up for the Tigers. 

In the NBL1 West this season she’s averaging 29 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists, dropping a ridiculous 28-point and 18-rebound performance against the Lakeside Lightning in Round 1. 

Watch the game live from 6:30pm AWST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.

Opals star Sami Whitcomb had a dominant night, dropping 31 points, 7 steals, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in Willetton's win ?

Watch #NBL1West via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/erlLkC6YHn

— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 6, 2023

Saturday: Sutherland Sharks vs Albury-Wodonga Bandits 

While the rosters may be different from last season, the NBL1 East women’s Grand Final rematch will be a fantastic battle between two top sides in the conference. 

The Bandits are 4-0 going into Round 4 with a completely new roster, bringing back hometown hero and Foot Locker Player of the Week Emma Mahady – while Ashlee Hannan has filled the shoes that Unique Thompson left open from last season. 

The Sharks are still awaiting the return of Lauren Nicholson, but her WNBL championship teammate Aliza Fabbro has made her impact early – alongside Emily Garland and Madeleine Norris. 

Watch the game live from 5:00pm AEST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.

Sunday: Ipswich Force vs South West Metro Pirates 

Former Brisbane Bullets teammates will go head-to-head on Sunday as the 2-0 Ipswich Force will host the South West Metro Pirates. 

Nathan Sobey made his return to Ipswich while Lamar Patterson made the move from the NBL1 North champion Gold Coast Rollers to the Pirates this offseason.

Patterson was named to the Coles Express NBL1 National Finals All-Star Five and has continued to be a star going into this season, alongside Brenden Teys and young star Roman Siulepa. 

The Force looks like the team to beat, adding both Galloway brothers, Deng Deng and now Matt Hodgson – they could roll out a full NBL starting line-up in the NBL1 North this season. 

Watch the game live from 3:00pm AEST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.