The 2025 National Basketball League is less than 7 days away from tip-off and today we look at the early season rankings.

We shall categorise these teams into 3 groups; Top tier,mid-table, and lower tier.

Top tier are the teams that have the potential to go and win it all.

Mid-table teams are those that do not look good enough to challenge for the title but are good enough to be out of relegation.

Lower tier refers to teams that will most likely be in the relegation fight.

Challengers

• JKL Lady Dolphins

The Lady Dolphins have won 4 of the last 5 NBL Championships and look forward to winning 3 in a row, a feat they failed to achieve in 2022 after losing to the UCU lady Canons in game 7.

The Lady Dolphins have a stacked squad and not forgetting, they have some players like Jane Asinde, on their roster who are currently playing abroad. If some of those players are available in summer, who knows if they could join the Dolphins and that would make them even stronger.

• JT Lady jaguars

The JT Lady Jaguars have steadily progressing since their ascent to the NBL. From finishing fourth, to third, and now their next step is to make the final.

In the 2024 season, the Lady jaguars finished as the best defensive team and such is the identity of a title challenge.

The addition of Shakirah Nanvubya and Aziida Nabayunga heavily elevated them and there is a popular belief that they will be the main challengers behind JKL.

• UCU Lady Canons

The UCU Basketball program is a gift that keeps giving and even if they lose a player, a replacement is always available. The Lady Canons lost a huge piece in Shakirah Nanvubya but they have a lot of talent available on the roster and they will be in contention once again.

The Lady Canons have a lot of options in the big man positions. Sylivia Nantongo and Matartina Anyango had good outings in the 2024 season and one would assume that they will continue to grow and become better.

On top of these 2 and Bridget Aber, UCU added youngsters Sarah Namale and Zoe Atek who will also impact them tremendously.

• KCCA Leopards

KCCA leopards had a spectacular first round in the 2024 season, but hell broke loose for them in the second, eventually being swept by JT Lady Jaguars in the quarter finals.

The Leopards are determined to rise up and challenge for the title and acquiring a player like Cherotich Lilian is a sign of their intentions.

According to what we saw in the 2024 season, are the KCCA Leopards good enough to be title challengers? Maybe not, but they are not very far away.

Mid- table Teams

• KIU Rangers

The KIU Rangers have barely done any transfers and the only notable name is that of Leticia Awor who was with the JKL Lady Dolphins and had a brief spell in Rwanda.

As things stand, the Rangers have 13 players on their roster Diana Letaru and Mary Amaniyo, who are both in the U.S, inclusive.

There is going to be heavy reliance on Ines Kanyamuneza, and Sharon Kirabo which is unsustainable and the other guys have to show up from time to time.

If Amaniyo and Letaru are available for KIU In the second round and possibly the playoffs, maybe then, the Rangers can be able to finish in a good spot.

• Miracle Ravens

Miracle Ravens is one of those teams that is always in the middle. They are neither to nor bottom and this year is most likely going to be like the previous one.

They have multiple new players on their team but losing their stars Lilian Cherotich and Susan Amito will  hurt them significantly.

• Magic Stormers

Magic Sormers is another team that is always just in the middle. They added a couple of players like Gimbo Barbra but those are not signings that scream championship aspirations.

• UPDF Lady Tomahawks

The 2023 FUBA Division One champions had fair performances in the debut NBL season and they managed to make the playoffs. The personnel they have is not Championship material but as a unit, they are better than some teams.

The Lady Tomahawks come into the season with expectations of finishing in the top 6 but that will come with it’s own challenges.

Lower-tier

• A1 Challenge

A1 Challenge has had a couple of ‘challenges’ in the off-season including losing their best players Stella Kiberenge and Sharua Nakirya and most importantly, their coach Eric Matovu.

Despite additions of 2024 Division One MVP Phiona Apio, Sarah Nassuna, Nerima Katrina, Rebecca Namatovu and Sharon Kilokya the team doesn’t look very convincing.

Of the 11 available players, only 3 played the previous season and this looks like a team that will be growing and getting to understand each other as the season progresses.

• Nabisunsa

Nabisunsa always come with their work cut out and their biggest mission is survive relegation. As a team that knows what they want, they have specific games they anticipate and prpeare for more than others and that is how they have managed to survive for long.

This year will not be any different for them.

• Angels

Angels only got to know that they would be playing in the NBL just days to the start of the league. One of the biggest things to question Is their readiness for the league. This team wasn’t good enough in the 2024 FUBA Division One and make the jump to the NBL without any major changes in personnel is not good for the team.

Their individual players need to step up and elevate themselves otherwise Angels may get a repeat of the 2023 season.

• Nkumba Lady Marines

During the 2024 FUBA Division One Finals, the Nkumba Lady Marines showed how bad they were in the absence of their star player Privas Kayeny and her She Cranes teammate Penlop Amiya.

The heavy reliance on an individual is unsustainable and the Lady marines have to figure out ways of winning without her.

They have made a couple of signings but we shall be waiting to see how much impact they will have on the team’s performance.