WBBL announce competition format changes with 2022-23 fixtures released

Image credit: Mansoor Ahmed / ahmedphotos

The fixtures for the 2022-23 WBBL season have been officially released with a number of format changes to its current competitions.

The WBBL Championship season getting underway on the final weekend of September as the home-and-away format remains with the 13 teams playing 24 league games in the regular season.

WBBL Cup

What’s new?
The Cup has opened the season in recent years, but has reverted to a single knockout format for next season. The first round draw has been based on last season’s league placings with the top three teams – London Lions, Sevenoaks Suns and Sheffield Hatters – receiving byes through to the quarter-finals.

First round draw:

WBBL Trophy

What’s new?
The competition has been expanded to 16 teams with three teams invited from WNBL Division 1 as is the case with the BBL Trophy. City of London Academy, Ipswich and Thames Valley Cavaliers will take part for the first time with the first round of the Trophy taking place on the weekend of 7-8 January with all games being held at a central venue.

WBBL Playoffs

What’s new?
The playoffs will remain a single-leg knockout competition, but there is now added incentive for lower seeded teams advancing from the first round with the reward of home advantage in the semi-finals.

For example, Caledonia Pride knocked out third seeds Sheffield Hatters in last season’s playoffs before staying on the road to face top-seeded London Lions – next season would see them earn a home semi-final instead.

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