# WABA League

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Top-level regional basketball league

This article is about the women's basketball league. For the men's basketball league, see [ABA League](/source/ABA_League).

WABA League Current season, competition or edition: 2025–26 WABA League Official logo of the WABA League Sport Basketball Founded 2001 No. of teams 12 Country Austria Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Montenegro Serbia Slovenia Continent FIBA Europe Most recent champions Cinkarna Celje (5th title) Website waba-league.com

**WABA League**, commonly known as the **Adriatic League**, is a top-level regional [basketball](/source/Basketball) league, featuring female teams from [Serbia](/source/Serbia), [Montenegro](/source/Montenegro), [Austria](/source/Austria), [Bosnia and Herzegovina](/source/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina), [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria), [Slovenia](/source/Slovenia) and [Croatia](/source/Croatia). Clubs from [Turkey](/source/Turkey), [North Macedonia](/source/North_Macedonia), [Hungary](/source/Hungary) and [Italy](/source/Italy) had their representatives in WABA League in past seasons. Since 2012 a Cadet WABA League and since 2014 Pionir WABA League is also played.

## History

### Formation and early years

WABA League was established in 2001 as EWWL League. In its first season, it included six teams from four countries (Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina). After the regular season, it held a tournament in which the three best teams played, which was won by [Athlete Celje](/source/%C5%BDKK_Athlete_Celje). In the next season, the league expanded to eight teams, and the final tournament was altered so that the placement included the four top teams. At the final tournament, the winner was [Željezničar Sarajevo](/source/%C5%BDKK_%C5%BDeljezni%C4%8Dar_Sarajevo).

Official trophy of WABA League (March 2016)

In 2003, the league changed its name to EWWL Trocal League, which lasted until 2006. During these seasons, the number of teams playing in the league varied from nine to twelve. From 2004 to 2006, it had a representative from Macedonia and then one from Bulgaria in the 2006–07 season. Austrian clubs left the competition in 2004. Since 2003, the competing teams have been from Serbia and Montenegro. In 2006, the league changed its name to WABA NBL which was used until 2008. In 2006, the [WABA Cup](/source/Vojko_Herksel_Cup) launched, which existed until 2010 and was attended by participants in the league. In 2007, the WABA Cup bore the name [Vojko Herskel](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vojko_Herskel&action=edit&redlink=1). In the 2008–09 season, the league was named after WABA Multipover; in 2009–10 season, it was named IWBL.

### 2010s

In 2010, the league changed its name to MŽRKL. The Vojko Herksel Cup was last played. In the 2012–13 season, the league included the Hungarian [PEAC-Pécs](/source/PEAC-P%C3%A9cs), and the [Belgrade](/source/Belgrade) [Partizan](/source/%C5%BDKK_Partizan) achieved a record in its history, playing 32 matches in the national competitions (regional league, championship and cup) all season without suffering a defeat. In the 2013–14 season, the format of the competition changed. The twelve participating teams were divided into two groups of six teams. Four first-placed teams were placed in the quarterfinals, with the winners to the Final Four.

In the 2015-16 season, the league introduced instead of quarterfinals League 6, in which the first phase the two groups are placed by 3 teams. The League 6 transmitted the results achieved against teams from the same group in the first phase they finished the League 6. League 6 plays a dual circuit system (one game at home and one away) against teams that have qualified from the opposite group previous stage of the competition. The four best teams in League 6 advance to the Final Four.

In September 2016, the league officially changed its name to WABA League.[1] In June 2017, the league signed a sponsorship contract with tourist agency BTravel and officially changed its name to BTravel WABA League.[2]

### Names in history

- EWWL League (2001–2003)

- EWWL Trocal League (2003–2006)

- WABA NBL (2006–2008)

- WABA Multipower (2008–2009)

- IWBL (2009–2010)

- MŽRKL (2010–2016)

- WABA League (2016–present)

## Logos

Evolution of the Adriatic League logo 2001–2010 2010–2016 2016–2017 2017–2018 2018–present n/a without a logo n/a

## Youth competition

### Cadet WABA League

In the season 2012–13, the Cadet League was launched, and since it has shown a lot of success in that period, it has continued to be held.[3] The winner of the first two seasons of cadet WABA League is the team [Trešnjevka 2009](/source/%C5%BDKK_Tre%C5%A1njevka_2009) from Croatia, when he beat the team of [Novi Zagreb](/source/%C5%BDKK_Novi_Zagreb)[4] and [Crvena zvezda](/source/%C5%BDKK_Crvena_zvezda).[5] In the third seasonis the champion was the team of [Triglav Kranj](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%C5%BDKK_Triglav_Kranj&action=edit&redlink=1), Slovenia, which is defeated in the final match of [Maribor](/source/%C5%BDKK_Maribor).[6]

### Pionir WABA League

Following the success of cadet league, a decision was made to launch the pioneering leagues.[7] In the first season, the winner of the pioneering league is team [Croatia 2006](/source/%C5%BDKK_Croatia_2006_Zagreb) from [Zagreb](/source/Zagreb), [Croatia](/source/Croatia), that won at the team of [Jedinstvo Tuzla](/source/%C5%BDKK_Jedinstvo_Tuzla) from [Tuzla](/source/Tuzla), [Bosnia and Herzegovina](/source/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina).[8]

## Finals

Year Host Final Third and fourth place Winner Score Runner-up Third place Fourth place 2001–02 Details Šibenik (CRO) Merkur Celje 2:1 Šibenik Jolly JBS Željezničar Sarajevo N / A 2002–03 Details Sarajevo (BIH) Željezničar Sarajevo 84:78 Šibenik Jolly JBS Merkur Celje Gospić Industrogradnja 2003–04 Details Gospić (CRO) Gospić Industrogradnja 59:58 Šibenik Jolly JBS Croatia 2006 Univerziteti Priština 2004–05 Details Šibenik (CRO) Šibenik Jolly JBS 82:66 Gospić Industrogradnja Vojvodina NIS Željezničar Sarajevo 2005–06 Details Novi Sad (SCG) Šibenik Jolly JBS 68:55 Vojvodina NIS Merkur Celje Gospić Croatia Osiguranje 2006–07 Details Sofia (BUL) CSKA Sofia 73:67 Šibenik Jolly JBS Gospić Croatia Osiguranje Željezničar Sarajevo 2007–08 Details Gospić (CRO) Šibenik Jolly JBS 72:66 Gospić Croatia Osiguranje Ragusa Dubrovnik Budućnost Podgorica 2008–09 Details Bijelo Polje (MNE) Šibenik Jolly JBS 69:63 Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje Gospić Croatia Osiguranje Merkur Celje 2009–10 Details Gospić (CRO) Gospić 73:65 Šibenik Jolly JBS Merkur Celje Mladi Krajišnik 2010–11 Details Šibenik (CRO) Šibenik Jolly JBS 20:0 Gospić Merkur Celje Partizan 2011–12 Details Zenica (BIH) Partizan Galenika 74:65 Čelik Zenica Voždovac Hemofarm Štada 2012–13 Details Novi Sad (SRB) Partizan Galenika 70:45 Radivoj Korać Peac-Pécs Vojvodina NIS 2013–14 Details Podgorica (MNE) Radivoj Korać 87:83 Crvena zvezda Athlete Celje Budućnost Volcano 2014–15 Details Celje (SLO) Umana Reyer Venezia 69:52 Radivoj Korać Budućnost Volcano Athlete Celje 2015–16 Details Podgorica (MNE) Budućnost Bemax 74:58 Medveščak Radivoj Korać Kvarner 2016–17 Details Podgorica (MNE) Athlete Celje 61:57 Beroe Budućnost Bemax Montana 2003 2017–18 Details Montana (BUL) Budućnost Bemax 71:68 Cinkarna Celje Montana 2003 Crvena zvezda 2018–19 Details Celje (SLO) Beroe 65:64 Budućnost Bemax Cinkarna Celje Crvena zvezda 2019–20 Details Stara Zagora (BUL) Budućnost Bemax Final four not played Cinkarna Celje Montana 2003 Beroe 2020–21 Details Stara Zagora (BUL) Beroe 66:56 Budućnost Bemax Montana 2003 Cinkarna Celje 2021–22 Details Podgorica (MNE) Cinkarna Celje 58:51 Budućnost Bemax Orlovi Montana 2003 2022–23 Details Podgorica (MNE) Cinkarna Celje 66:64 Budućnost Bemax Vojvodina 021 Montana 2003 2023–24 Details Podgorica (MNE) Cinkarna Celje 64:59 Budućnost Bemax Orlovi Sloga Požega 2024–25 Details Celje (SLO) Budućnost Bemax 71:64 Cinkarna Celje Montana 2003 Beroe 2025–26 Details Podgorica (MNE) Montana 2003 69:66 Cinkarna Celje Budućnost Bemax Partizan 1953

## Champions

Team Winners Runners-up Years won Years runner-up Šibenik 5 5 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010 Cinkarna Celje 5 3 2002, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024 2018, 2020, 2025 Budućnost Podgorica 4 5 2016, 2018, 2020, 2025 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Gospić 2 3 2004, 2010 2005, 2008, 2011 Beroe 2 1 2019, 2021 2017 Partizan 2 – 2012, 2013 – Radivoj Korać 1 2 2014 2013, 2015 Željezničar Sarajevo 1 – 2003 – CSKA Sofia 1 – 2007 – Umana Reyer Venezia 1 – 2015 – Vojvodina – 1 – 2006 Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje – 1 – 2009 Čelik Zenica – 1 – 2012 Crvena zvezda – 1 – 2014 Medveščak – 1 – 2016

## Notable persons

### Former players

Belarus Olga Masilionene Bosnia and Herzegovina Milica Deura Croatia Ivona Bogoje Luca Ivanković Jelena Ivezić Antonija Mišura Nika Mühl Sandra Popović Marija Vrsaljko Czech Republic Lucie Conkova North Macedonia Jelena Antić Montenegro Jasmina Bigović Aleksandra Vujović Iva Perovanović Ana Turčinović Božica Mujović Serbia Tijana Ajduković Kristina Baltić Mirjana Beronja Dajana Butulija Nataša Bučevac Ana Dabović Milica Dabović Ivana Grubor Brankica Hadžović Ivona Jerković Nevena Jovanović Dragana Stanković Nataša Kovačević Ivanka Matić Maja Miljković Tamara Radočaj Biljana Stanković Bojana Vulić Saša Čađo Slovenia Nika Barič United States Latasha Byears Constance Jinks Tiffani Johnson Sheena Moore Brooke Queenan Jasmine Stone Latoya Williams

### Former coaches

- [Stipe Bralić](/source/Stipe_Brali%C4%87)

- [Slađan Ivić](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sla%C4%91an_Ivi%C4%87&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Marina Maljković](/source/Marina_Maljkovi%C4%87)

- [Dragan Vuković](/source/Dragan_Vukovi%C4%87)

## Awards

Most Valuable Player Season Player Team 2001–02 n / a 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Anđa Jelavić Vanda Baranović Jelena Dubljević Šibenik Jolly JBS Gospić Croatia Osiguranje Budućnost Podgorica 2005–06 Sandra Popović Šibenik Jolly JBS 2006–07 Latasha Byears CSKA Sofia 2007–08 Lucie Conkova Merkur Celje 2008–09 Constance Jinks Šibenik Jolly JBS 2009–10 Jelena Ivezić Gospić Croatia Osiguranje 2010–11 Ana Turčinović Merkur Celje 2011–12 Tamara Radočaj Partizan Galenika 2012–13 Milica Dabović Partizan Galenika 2013–14 Tavelyn James Athlete Celje 2014–15 Marica Gajić Athlete Celje 2015–16 Božica Mujović Budućnost Volcano 2016–17 Nikolina Delić Play Off Ultra 2017–18 Zala Friškovec Cinkarna Celje 2018–19 Nikolina Babić Budućnost Bemax 2019–20 Josipa Pavić Trešnjevka 2009 2020–21 Aleksandra Mužević Orlovi 2021–22 La Mama Kapinga Maweja ŽKK Plamen Požega 2022–23 2023–24 Thayna Silva Cinkarna Celje Final Four Most Valuable Player Season Player Team 2001–02 Katja Temnik Merkur Celje 2002–03 Mirna Deak Željezničar Sarajevo 2003–04 Vanda Baranović-Urukalo Gospić Industrogradnja 2004–05 Ivona Bogoje Šibenik Jolly JBS 2005–06 Sandra Popović Šibenik Jolly JBS 2006–07 Latasha Byears CSKA Sofia 2007–08 Anđa Jelavić Šibenik Jolly JBS 2008–09 Nataša Popović Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje 2009–10 Carla Thomas Gospić Croatia Osiguranje 2010–11 n / a 2011–12 Tamara Radočaj Partizan Galenika 2012–13 Nataša Bučevac Vojvodina NIS 2013–14 Haleigh Lankster Budućnost Volcano 2014–15 Shannon McCallum Umana Reyer Venezia 2015–16 Irena Matović Budućnost Volcano 2016–17 Annamaria Prezelj Athlete Celje 2017–18 Božica Mujović Budućnost Volcano 2018–19 Snežana Aleksić Beroe 2019–20 Final Four has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2020–21 Jaklin Zlatanova Beroe Top Scorer Season Player Team 2001–02 n / a 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Anica Tešić Željezničar Sarajevo 2005–06 Ana Dabović Herceg Novi 2006–07 n / a 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 Ljubica Kure AJM Maribor 2011–12 Teja Oblak Athlete Celje 2012–13 Sanja Orozović Athlete Celje 2013–14 Tavelyn James Athlete Celje 2014–15 Haleigh Lankster Grosbasket 2015–16 Marica Gajić Athlete Celje 2016–17 Monique Reid Beroe 2017–18 Nikolina Džebo Play Off Ultra 2018–19 Ana Poček Beroe 2019–20 Jelena Nikpaljević Orlovi 2020–21 Tamara Rajić Orlovi

## Sponsors

**Title sponsor**

- **BTravel** ([Croatian](/source/Croatia) tourist agency) (June 2017 - 2018)

## See also

- [Vojko Herksel Cup](/source/Vojko_Herksel_Cup)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["MŽRKL - Međunarodna ženska regionalna košarkaška liga"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170510064535/http://www.mzrkl.org/vest.php?id=1128). Archived from [the original](http://www.mzrkl.org/vest.php?id=1128) on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Igra i Kraljevo, sutra žreb, sponzor i novo ime lige"](https://waba-league.com/2429-2/). 29 June 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["MŽRKL - Međunarodna ženska regionalna košarkaška liga"](http://www.mzrkl.org/vest.php?id=432). Retrieved 29 May 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["MŽRKL - Međunarodna ženska regionalna košarkaška liga"](http://www.mzrkl.org/vest.php?id=430). Retrieved 29 May 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["MŽRKL - Međunarodna ženska regionalna košarkaška liga"](http://www.mzrkl.org/vest.php?id=647). Retrieved 29 May 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["MŽRKL - Međunarodna ženska regionalna košarkaška liga"](http://www.mzrkl.org/vest.php?id=891). Retrieved 29 May 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["MŽRKL - Međunarodna ženska regionalna košarkaška liga"](http://www.mzrkl.org/vest.php?id=672). Retrieved 29 May 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["MŽRKL - Međunarodna ženska regionalna košarkaška liga"](http://www.mzrkl.org/vest.php?id=890). Retrieved 29 May 2015.

## External links

- [Official website](http://waba-league.com)

- [Profile](https://www.eurobasket.com/WABA/basketball.aspx?Women=1) at Eurobasket.com

v t e Adriatic League Women's seasons 2000s 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2010s 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2020s 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26

v t e WABA League clubs WABA League seasons Current clubs (2023–24) Group A Orlovi BiH Lavovi Brčko BiH Cinkarna Celje SLO Plamen Požega CRO UBI Graz AUT Partizan 1953 SRB Group B RMU Banovići BiH Montana 2003 BUL Sloga Požega SRB Nikšić MNE Budućnost Bemax MNE Duga Šabac SRB Former clubs (2001–present) Badel 1862 MKD Beroe BUL Croatia 2006 CRO Crvena zvezda SRB CSKA Sofia BUL Čelik Zenica BiH Feniks Pale BiH Gospić CRO Grosuplje SLO Gustino Powers AUS Herceg Novi (defunct) MNE Ilirija SLO İstanbul Üniversitesi TUR Jablanica BiH Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje MNE Jedinstvo Tuzla BiH Ježica SLO Kranjska Gora SLO KAM Basket MKD Kvarner CRO Kraljevo SRB Livno BiH Maribor SLO Medveščak CRO Mladi Krajišnik BiH Novi Zagreb CRO Peac-Pécs HUN Play Off Sarajevo BiH Radivoj Korać SRB Ragusa Dubrovnik CRO Reyer Venezia ITA Sloboda Novi Grad BiH Srbobran SRB Struga 2009 MKD Šibenik CRO Trešnjevka 2009 CRO Triglav Kranj SLO Univerziteti Priština SRB Vojvodina (defunct) SRB Vojvodina 021 SRB Voždovac (defunct) SRB Vršac SRB Željezničar Sarajevo BiH Zagreb CRO

v t e Women's basketball leagues FIBA Women's World League (defunct) Other leagues Africa Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad DR Congo Egypt Gabon Gambia Ghana Ivory Coast Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nigeria South Africa Senegal Seychelles Swaziland Tunisia Uganda Zimbabwe Americas Argentina Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Mexico Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico United States 3-on-3: Unrivaled U.S. Minor: UpShot WBDA NCAA Uruguay Venezuela Asia Bahrain China Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Iraq Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Kuwait Lebanon Malaysia Mongolia Philippines WNBL–Pilipinas Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Syria Taiwan Thailand United Arab Emirates Europe Albania Armenia Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus North Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Great Britain England Scotland Greece 2nd division Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Norway North Macedonia Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain 2nd 3rd Sweden Switzerland Turkey 2nd division Ukraine Oceania Australia Fiji New Zealand International tournaments Africa Women's Basketball League Africa Arab Club Championship Americas Women's Basketball League Americas South American Basketball League Asia Women's Basketball League Asia Europe EuroLeague Women EuroCup Women Europe SuperCup Adriatic League Baltic League Central Europe League European League Defunct leagues Americas Central American Championships Europe Ronchetti Cup Vojko Herksel Cup Middle European League Adriatic Friendly League Czechoslovakia East Germany Soviet Union Serbia and Montenegro Yugoslavia United Kingdom (old league)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [WABA League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WABA_League) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WABA_League?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.