The curtain rises on the 2026 National Basketball League (NBL) playoffs on Friday evening with Pearl Queens and Magic Stormers opening the postseason in a high-stakes women’s quarterfinal clash at YMCA Court, Wandegeya.
Following a break in the domestic calendar to accommodate Uganda’s national team assignments, both sides return with ambitions of taking the first step towards the championship in a series where there is little margin for error.
The quarterfinals will be decided over a best-of-three format, meaning the first team to claim two victories will secure a place in the semifinals.
Although Magic Stormers earned the higher seeding after finishing fourth with a 12-10 regular-season record, Pearl Queens enter the series with a psychological edge after defeating Stormers in both league meetings.
Their first encounter ended in a hard-fought 43-41 victory despite Pearl Queens failing to register a field goal in the opening quarter. The second meeting was equally dramatic, with Pearl Queens overturning an early nine-point deficit to snatch a 63-61 triumph, inspired by Jane Chisome Iriele’s game-high 18 points.
Making their first playoff appearance after securing promotion by winning the 2024 FUBA Division One championship, Pearl Queens will once again look to Iriele for inspiration alongside Djenabo Ballo, Scovia Akello and Agatha Kamwada.
Magic Stormers, meanwhile, will be banking on experienced campaigners Daphine Adong, Angela Auma, Maureen Amoding, Joy Nekesa Mupalia and Jesca Namugala to halt Pearl Queens’ dominance and keep their title hopes alive.
The reward for the series winner is a daunting semifinal showdown against either regular-season leaders JT Lady Jaguars or defending champions JKL Lady Dolphins, who are also set to begin their playoff campaign this weekend.
Elsewhere in the women’s quarterfinals, UCU Lady Canons face KIU Rangers, while KCCA Leopards battle UPDF Lady Tomahawks for the remaining semifinal places.
