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3 September 2026  4 min read

EABL & WEABL: DiSE Partnerships confirmed for 2026-2029 cycle

Following on from the 2023-2026 cycle, the assessment and appeal process has now concluded and successful partnerships have been confirmed for the 2026-29 cycle.

It means the structures of the Elite Academy Basketball league (EABL) and the Women's Elite Academy Basketball League (WEABL) for the 2026/27 season can be confirmed. 

Eighteen Category 1 Basketball Academies - that have met the Academy Delivery Standards and have been ranked under the Category 1 status - have been confirmed, 13 of which currently deliver the DiSE Qualification.

To ensure equity, and in support of the women and girls game at the performance level of Basketball England's Pathway, invitations have also been extended to two programmes.

The list of successful applicants are as follows, and will be included in both leagues unless stated:

DiSE Qualification

• Barking Abbey
• BMET City of Birmingham Rockets
• Charnwood College Riders (EABL only)
• City of London Academy - Southwark
• Copleston High School
• Derby Trailblazers (EABL only)
• HHS Reading Rockets
• Itchen College
• Manchester Magic/Mystics
• Myerscough College
• Nottingham Academy Wildcats
• Oaklands Wolves
• SGS College

Additional Category One programmes

• New City College Hackney
• Newcastle College
• The Canterbury Academy
• UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park
• Xaverian College

League membership (WEABL only)

• Milton Keynes 5 Dimensions - The Hazeley Academy
• The Sheffield College

Basketball England’s Talent Pathway and Programme Manager Sam Messam said:

"The Category 1 academies are an important part of our Player Pathway and provide talented athletes with daily training environments that ensure high contact time, quality technical and tactical instruction braced by a commitment to physical robustness, and pursuit of persistent performers who are highly coachable and dedicated to their craft.

"The procurement process for Category 1 status is rigorous in both its approach and depth of assessment.

"These 18 academies have proven themselves to have qualified in all seven Academy Delivery Standards and ready to support our most talented prospects within the 16-19-year-old window."

DiSE Partnerships are elite academy environments supported by multiple partners (e.g. university, school, college, basketball club etc.) to deliver the DiSE Qualification.

The DiSE Qualification forms part of BE’s England Development Programme (EDP) Framework, which is made up of four elements: the DiSE Qualification, a full-time programme of learning (i.e., A-Levels or BTEC study), Level 2 coach/official award, and participation in the EABL or WEABL.

The EABL was established in 2010/11 as a competitive outlet for DiSE students, with the WEABL beginning in 2015/16 with the same remit.

2026/27 Structures

 

Both leagues will begin on Wednesday 7 October 2026, with reigning EABL winners Myerscough College travelling to debutants Nottingham Academy Wildcats, and WEABL champs City of London Academy - Southwark beginning their defence against Itchen College.

The first half of the season will end on 16 December 2026, firing back up for 2027 on 13 January as the teams try and secure a place in this season's Academy Playoff Finals on 24 March 2027.

All dates above are provisional, with a number of slots reserved in the current calendar for fixture movement if needed.