20 July 2026
Norths Basketball has wrapped up a historic NBL1 East regular season, with the women’s side claiming the minor premiership and the men’s team tying for the best record in the league.
The women have also become one of only two teams in NBL1 East history to complete an undefeated season, winning all 20 games. Norths’ women have come close to going undefeated over the past three seasons, including posting an impressive 18–2 record when they won the NBL1 East championship in 2023.
The NBL1 comprises five conferences and 144 teams across Australia. Since its establishment in 2019, only eight teams across the country and both divisions have gone undefeated.
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One of those sides was last year’s Geelong United women’s team, which was led by league MVP Jaz Shelley, who now plays for the Bears. Shelley has been in remarkable form, averaging 24 points, six assists, six rebounds and four steals per game, making her the clear favourite to win the MVP award.
“We didn’t really have too many expectations; we just wanted to take it one game at a time and continue to play the way we wanted to play. So it’s an added bonus,” Shelley told NBL1 East’s Caleb Fogarty of the minor premiership.
“I’m loving it. It’s been really cool to be on the north side of Sydney, and everyone has embraced me so far. They have such a good junior program here, so it’s also been cool to be connected with that,” Shelley said of her time with the club.
Meanwhile, the men’s squad has registered its best season of the NBL1 era, finishing 16–4 to tie for the best record in the competition. However, the team was not named minor premier, with the Illawarra Hawks claiming the title after defeating the Bears in their earlier match-up.
Nonetheless, Norths remains one of the main threats to win the championship. The Bears boast arguably one of the best rosters in the competition, with four players who have NBL experience: Hunter Goodrick, Fabijan Krslovic, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Iggy Mitchell.
They are supported by a deep roster of local Norths talent, including leading scorer Lachie Bofinger, who is averaging 17 points per game.
Heading into the qualifying finals, the women will play a rematch of last season’s semi-final against the Centre of Excellence. The men will face the Sutherland Sharks, with an opportunity to avenge a one-point loss to the side in the final round of the regular season.
Both games will be played at the North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre in Crows Nest on Saturday, 25 July. Tip-off is at 5pm.