Domino's Women's Super League Week One Preview

The Domino’s Women’s Super League tips-off this weekend on basketballireland.tv, as teams battle it out across the regular season, before another gripping playoff bracket in March and April to determine who’ll be crowned Domino’s Women’s Super League champions.

SETU Waterford Wildcats topped the regular season charts last season but ultimately it was third seeded Killester BC who triumphed at the National Basketball Arena to secure back-to-back championships. 

Utility Trust St. Paul’s enjoyed a fairytale run from the 8^th seed to the Domino’s Women’s Super League final – can they have another deep post-season run? Can McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles retain their top-tier status beyond one season? 

There are endless questions to be answered as the opening round gets underway on Saturday afternoon.

Catalyst Fr. Mathews v Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers, Saturday 5pm

These two sides split the season series a year ago, each defending their own court. Catalyst Fr. Mathews enjoyed a winning record at home – notable wins coming against SETU Waterford Wildcats and eventual champions Killester BC.

Laila Blair will definitely be a name to watch out for during this season. Blair dropped 32-points in their most recent pre-season win over Wildcats and with Grainne Dwyer returning for another year, they’ll be hopeful of returning to the playoffs in 2026.

Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers exited at the quarter-final stage last season and return all five starters from that occasion for another run. Irish international Lynn Tunnah enjoyed a productive season, while Alyssa Velles and Jessica Fressle, who came back into the fold at the tail end of 2025, are always threats on the offensive end.

Trinity Meteors v McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles, Saturday, 5:30pm

Trinity Meteors narrowly missed out on a place in the Domino’s Women’s Super League final last season, but there’s been much change at the club during the off-season. Head coach Hillary Netsiyanwa has joined FloMAX Liffey Celtics, while leading scorer from that game Grace Prenter is now playing college basketball with Texas. 

Irish international guard Hazel Finn is their best-known offseason addition, with Seamus Donnelly taking over coaching duties having previously guided the club to success at underage level. 

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles are without the services of Emma Tolan, who has left to join Oklahoma in the NCAA, but in Soleil Barnes and Mazatlan Harris – head coach John Stephens will hope to have recruited enough firepower to keep them in the league beyond one season.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics v Killester, Saturday, 6pm 

The tie of opening weekend is the repeat of last year’s Paudie O’Connor National Cup Final, in what is being described as a “redemption game” by Killester’s Leilani Turner.

The two sides met in an unprecedented playoff game to decide the title in the 2024 season, with the duo tied in a number of categories following the conclusion of the campaign, so an interesting rivalry has developed. 

Killester enjoyed a regular season double over their Kildare rivals a year ago – a feat they’ll be more confident of replicating following the return of Domino’s Women’s Super League All-Star selection Samantha Haiby for another campaign. 

The departure of Karl Kilbride as head coach will likely see a shift in playing style for FloMAX Liffey Celtics in the year ahead, but in Irish internationals Sorcha Tiernan and Áine O’Connor, they have enough experience in the ranks to make that transition as smooth as possible following a tough opening game.

The Domino's Women's Super League Trophy. 

SETU Waterford Wildcats v Utility Trust St. Paul’s, Saturday, 7pm

Utility Trust St. Paul’s caused a huge shock in the Domino’s Women’s Super League Playoffs when they ended SETU Waterford Wildcats season as the 8^th seed in March, so revenge is likely on the menu in the South-East on Saturday evening. 

There’s been an interesting summer of recruitment in Killarney with the addition of Maisie Burnham and Tara Cousins from Portland and Deleware respectively, while SETU Waterford Wildcats have brought in two rookie Americans, Bre Anna Rhodes and Alyssa Durazo to compliment four-time Domino’s Women’s Super League Player of the Season, Sarah Hickey.

Waterford topped the standings in the regular season in 2025, so it’ll be interesting to see if Hall of Fame head coach Jillian Hayes adapts their approach to the campaign ahead in light of that upset in the playoffs. 

UCC Glanmire v Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, Sunday, 1:30pm 

The teams involved in the first Cork derby of the season had a remarkably similar season just gone. Both finished with a 9-9 regular season record and both exited the playoffs in the opening round.

Needless to say, improvement will be expected from Mark Scannell and Liam Culloty in the year ahead and a win on opening weekend would be an excellent start to that goal. Ireland captain Edel Thornton is back from the outset to lead a young Irish core for Brunell, having missed a number of months last year with an ACL injury.

They’ve added an American guard Maddi Cluse from Clemson to handle the ball alongside Thornton, but the former tiger also figures to be a presence on the defensive end, judging by her career numbers to date.

Vianne Cumber and Jewel Watkins are looking to lead Glanmire to their first title in three seasons. Watkins scored the ball well at Youngstown State and with Áine McKenna back for another run, as well as Claire O’Sullivan, expectations of a higher regular season finish than 7^th are a big possibility.  

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Full fixture details can be found here.