WNBL1 and WNBL National Cup preview: 25/26 November - live streams, stats and more

The big weekends just keep on coming, with another packed slate of D1W action alongside a key round of the National Cup.

Five league games are booked in for tomorrow, including a choice clash between Bristol and CoLA, before the quarter-finals of the Cup play out to end the weekend.

We take a look at all of the action below, with links to live stats and live streams at the bottom of the page.

Bristol Academy Flyers (3-4) vs CoLA Southwark Pride (4-2)

Hot topic Bristol have a home fixture tomorrow against former champs CoLA Southwark Pride.

After a 7-15 campaign a year ago and dropping their first four games of 2023/24, Bristol looked to be a side on the slide once again but three wins in a row have left the South West standouts well poised for a dart up the standings instead.

In forward Mara Marchizotti, tomorrow's hosts have the reigning Player of the Week and the Argentinian's tandem with fellow forward Cristina Bigica is sure to create a tricky problem for Felicia Jacobs and CoLA to solve down low.

It's not as simple as collapsing to the basket against Bristol at the moment either, with Hannah Wallace and Kim Kheing both ranking in D1W's top six for three-point percentage.

Alongside Jacobs, CoLA should be able to lean on another forward in the form of TOTW selection Adaora Dioramma, who had a 13-point, 17-rebound double-double outing against City of Birmingham last week.

Throw in Rhia Saggar's 22-point, 10-rebound double-double as another player in form and tomorrow's visitors should pose a stern test to Bristol's current winning streak.

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Elsewhere this weekend

Loughborough Riders (5-3) maintained their title push with a road win against Anglia Ruskin last week. The Midlanders will look to keep that momentum going tomorrow as they host Manchester Mystics (4-3).

Brent Bulls (4-1) lost their unbeaten streak to start the season last time out but are still excellently placed through the early going. Next up they have a trip across London to face Barking Abbey (3-4).

Two teams battling for a top-four spot meet tomorrow in Uxbridge as Thames Valley Cavaliers (4-3) entertain Anglia Ruskin University (3-5).

The Cavs have upcoming games against ARU and Manchester before a crunch tie with fellow title hopefuls Brent, so building some momentum ahead of that mid-December tie could be important.

The day ends with City of Birmingham Rockets (2-4) looking to slow down current leaders Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (6-1).

Harriet Welham slotted herself into the D1W Team of the Week last time out, and the Rockets will be hard pressed to stop the talented guard from producing similar performance levels this weekend.

WNBL National Cup

Four quarter-finals await, with a pair of D2 sides mixing it against top-flight opponents combined with two all-D1W clashes.

Last season's winners Thames Valley Cavaliers have the tough task of taking a trip to Brent Bulls in what could be one of the games of the weekend.

City of Birmingham Rockets will face a tricky test from the veteran know-how of Sheffield Hatters II, who won the second-tier playoffs a year ago and look more than capable of upsetting the D1 Rockets.

Worcester Wolves will also be hoping that home court advantage is enough to overturn D1W's Reading Rockets, especially since the Berkshire side are in the midst of a four-game losing streak as things stand.

The final quarter-final, a much-anticipated clash between CoLA Southwark Pride and Endeavour Ipswich Basketball, will be played at a later date.

This weekend's fixtures:

Saturday 25 November - WNBL Division One

2pm - Loughborough Riders vs Manchester Mystics - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

2pm - Barking Abbey vs Brent Bulls - LIVE STATS

4:30pm - Thames Valley Cavaliers vs Anglia Ruskin University - LIVE STATS

5pm - Bristol Academy Flyers vs CoLA Southwark Pride - LIVE STATS

5pm - City of Birmingham Rockets vs Endeavour Ipswich Basketball - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

Sunday 26 November - WNBL National Cup

4pm - Brent Bulls vs Thames Valley Cavaliers - LIVE STATS

5pm - City of Birmingham Rockets vs Sheffield Hatters II - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

5pm - Worcester Wolves vs Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS

TBC - CoLA Southwark Pride vs Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 

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Main image credit - B.East Photography