Women's Japan Basketball League

Women's Japan Basketball League
一般社団法人バスケットボール女子日本リーグ
Founded1998
CountryJapan
ConfederationFIBA Asia (Asia)
Number of teams15
Level on pyramid1
Most championshipsJX Eneos Sunflowers (21 titles)
PresidentYuka Harada
WebsiteWJBL

The Women's Japan Basketball League (Japanese: 一般社団法人バスケットボール女子日本リーグ, romanized: Ippanshadanhōjin Basukettobōru Joshi Nihon Rīgu) is a professional women's basketball league in Japan. The league is composed of 15 teams across two divisions, with 8 teams competing in the first division "Premier" (プレミア, Puremia), and 7 in the second division, "Future" (フューチャー, Fyūchā).[1] The league is commonly referred to simply as the W League (Wリーグ).

History

The league was founded in 1998, with the Chanson V-Magic winning the inaugural title.

From 2024–25 there was a change to a two level league structure, with the “W League Premier” being the top league, and the “W League Future” being the lower league.[2]

Leadership

In June 2023, former player and sports broadcaster Yuka Harada became president of the league.[3]

Previous presidents include:

  • Businessperson Kiyomi Saito 2015-2021[4]
  • Film Director Naomi Kawase 2021-2023[5][6]

Teams

Overview of WJBL teams
Division Team Location Arena Founded Joined
Premier Division Fujitsu Red Wave Kawasaki, Kanagawa Kawasaki City Todoroki Arena 1985 1994
Denso Iris Kariya, Aichi Wing Arena Kariya 1985 1993
Chanson V-Magic Shizuoka, Shizuoka Konohana Arena 1962 1977
Eneos Sunflowers Kashiwa, Chiba Kashiwa Central Gymnasium 1969 1976
Toyota Antelopes Nagoya, Aichi Sky Hall Toyota 1963 1997
Toyota Boshoku Sunshine Rabbits Kariya, Aichi Wing Arena Kariya 1980 2004
Aisin Wings Anjō, Aichi Tōsho Arena Anjō 1979 2000
Tokyo Haneda Vickies Ōta, Tokyo Ota City General Gymnasium 1972 2001
Future Division Hitachi High-Tech Cougars Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Hitachinaka General Gymnasium 1961 2000
Mitsubishi Electric Koalas Nagoya, Aichi Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium 1956 1999
Yamanashi Queenbees Kai, Yamanashi Kai Shikishima Gymnasium 1968 1999
Niigata Albirex BB Rabbits Niigata, Niigata Niigata Toyano General Gymnasium 1967* 2000
Prestige International Aranmare Akita Akita, Akita Masuda Gymnasium 2015 2021
Himeji Egrets Himeji, Hyōgo Victorina Wink Gymnasium 2013 2022
SMBC Tokyo Solua Chiyoda, Tokyo Arena Tachikawa Tachihi 1955 2025

Notes:

  • The Niigata Albirex BB Rabbits were formerly known as the JAL Rabbits. The team came under new ownership and was reorganized in 2011.[7]
Locations of the WJBL teams
Locations of the WJBL Kanto teams
Locations of the WJBL Aichi teams

Champions

  • 1999–00: Chanson V-Magic
  • 2000–01: JOMO Sunflowers
  • 2001–02: JOMO Sunflowers
  • 2002–03: JOMO Sunflowers
  • 2003–04: JOMO Sunflowers
  • 2004–05: Chanson V-Magic
  • 2005–06: Chanson V-Magic
  • 2006–07: JOMO Sunflowers
  • 2007–08: Fujitsu Redwave
  • 2008–09: JOMO Sunflowers
  • 2009–10: JOMO Sunflowers
  • 2010–11: JX Sunflowers
  • 2011–12: JX Sunflowers
  • 2012–13: JX Sunflowers
  • 2013–14: JX Sunflowers
  • 2014–15: JX-Eneos Sunflowers
  • 2015–16: JX-Eneos Sunflowers
  • 2016–17: JX-Eneos Sunflowers
  • 2017–18: JX-Eneos Sunflowers
  • 2018–19: JX-Eneos Sunflowers
  • 2019–20: Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan[8]
  • 2020–21: Toyota Antelopes
  • 2021–22: Toyota Antelopes
  • 2022-23: Eneos Sunflowers
  • 2023-24: Fujitsu Redwave[9]
  • 2024-25:

See also

References

  1. ^ "チーム紹介". wjbl.org (in Japanese). Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  2. ^ "Wリーグが2024-25シーズンの最終エントリーシートを公開、各チームに新戦力が加入". www.basketball-zine.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  3. ^ "Wリーグ新会長に原田裕花氏、「Wリーグ、選手、これからのバスケ界を担う子どもたちのために尽力していきます」". www.basketball-zine.com. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  4. ^ "女性起業家、斎藤聖美さん 女子バスケを改革する - スポーツ : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  5. ^ "Ｗリーグ新会長に映画監督の河瀬直美さん バスケット女子：時事ドットコム". 2021-06-04. Archived from the original on 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  6. ^ "新役員就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of new executive appointments] (PDF) (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-06-04.
  7. ^ "チームプロフィール". 新潟アルビレックスBBラビッツ プロバスケットボール オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  8. ^ "無観客開催としていたWリーグプレーオフは開催中止に | バスケットボールスピリッツ" (in Japanese). 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  9. ^ "Meet the FIBA WBL Asia Teams: Fujitsu Red Wave". www.fiba.basketball. 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
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