At the start of the season, even before the first tip-off, most of us had decided that the 2025 NBL was going to be a 2-horse race.

The JKL Lady Dolphins, were the team to dethrone while the JT Lady Jaguars, after the acquisition of Shakirah Nanvubya and Aziida Nabayunga were the team chasing them.

In the first game of the season, the 2 teams faced off in a thrilling encounter and the JT Lady Jaguars prevailed with a 75-71 victory.

Given the way the 2 teams had played, most of us did not see them losing any other game.

Why so?

The 3 other teams that could have been ‘chasisng’ were all not very convincing.

The KCCA Leopards had bee seen as the challengers in the 2024 season but there second round and the playoffs were a menace.

That is why many people were not sold on them.

The UCU Lady Canons had lost one of their key pieces, Shakirah and Aziida and had mostly a young side.

The confidence in them was low because of them and many doubted their readiness to challenge the top sides this season.

The KIU Rangers had just one addition, Leticia Awor and did not look like a threat.

What changed?

As the season progressed, the KCCA Leopards showed that they are still valid challengers.

In their first game, they put 100+ past Nkumba but fell to the Miracle Eaglets in their next game.

After that defeat, in the minds of many, KCCA’s story was going to be like that of the 2024 season.

However, the Leopards shocked us after convincingly defeating the JT Lady Jaguars, UCU and the JKL Lady Dolphins to finish as the number one team after the first round.

The UCU Lady Canons lost to all the top 3 teams in the first round and also had a walkover against Angels.

That put them in an unsuitable position to close the first round but they have looked like a different team in the second.

So far in the second round, they have defeated the KCCA Leopards and the JKL Lady Dolphins.

The KCCA Leopards also completed the double over the JT Lady Jaguars after dominant 63-46 victory.

The KIU Rangers have taken care of business against the teams below them but are yet to win against a team above them.

What do these results mean?

In the minds of many, it was a 2 horse race season.

But all of a sudden, four teams are involved and potentially five.

There has not been one team that has been convincing enough to say that they are ahead of everyone else.

All these teams showed that they can beat each other and it will go down to match ups and preparation.

That is why seeding is going to be very important, that number one spot is highly coveted.

The KIU Rangers are not talked about enough and rightly so but, they have Mary Amaniyo and Diana Letaru on their roster.

Amaniyo led them to a finals in 2023 and who knows how much better she has become.

If those 2 return, the Rangers will be a completely different side and who knows they can also upset someone.

JKL has also not been a full strength side with injuries and absence of some players.

They also have the Gazelles Captain, Jane Asinde and Jamila ‘Zama’ Nansinkombi on their roster.

These 2 can also elevate them to an even much higher level, but will they play?

There is a lot of uncertainty in the Women’s NBL and to make matters worse, the playoffs come after the Afrobaskets.

It is very hard to predict how the teams shall line up in the playoffs but one thing is for sure, it is no longer a 2 horse race.