Dolphins Basketball Club have been crowned champions of the 2025 Zenith Bank Women’s Premier League after defeating rivals First Bank 61-55 in a thrilling final decided at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday.

Both sides came into the title decider unbeaten. Dolphins booked their place in the final with a 66-54 win over Royal Aces, while First Bank narrowly edged MFM 47-45 in the other semifinal.

The final lived up to expectations. Dolphins started brightly and took control early, heading into halftime with a slim 33-30 advantage. In the third quarter, they extended the lead into double digits, though First Bank fought back to cut the gap to nine points going into the last quarter.

The Elephant Girls rallied in the fourth, outplaying Dolphins and forcing the game into overtime at 53-53. But in the extra period, Dolphins regained their composure, shutting down First Bank’s offense while adding eight crucial points to seal a famous victory and the ₦7.5m champions’ prize.

Reacting after the loss, First Bank coach Juliana Akhere lamented her side’s missed opportunities

 “I believe strongly that we needed to better understand the instructions given to the players. If they can follow instructions at a higher level, things will fall in place,” she said.

Earlier in the third-place playoff, former champions MFM dominated Royal Aces 70-46 to secure the bronze medal.

There was also recognition for outstanding individual performances. Idubamo Beggi (MFM) won the award for most assists, Wandoo Hembam (MFM) claimed the highest three-pointer award, while Bidemi Ogedengbe was named top rebounder. Each award came with a ₦500,000 cash prize.