One of the more popular leagues in New Providence is set for a grand opening of its 2013-14 season this coming November, and this year will be bigger than ever before, with eight teams ready to compete.
The New Providence Women's Basketball Association (NPWBA) is tentatively scheduled to open on the first Saturday in November. According to league president Simone Beneby, the competition is expected to be stiffer than ever with the six returning teams and two new teams entered. The six returning teams are: the defending champions Bommer G. Operators; last year's runners-up the Career Builders Cheetahs; playoff squads the Super Value Cybots Queens and the Johnson's Lady Truckers, and the two other teams in the league, the College of The Bahamas (COB) Caribs and the Saints. They are expected to be joined this year by a team from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and also a team that will be coached by former national team coach Terrance 'Red Eye' McSweeney.
"As usual, we expect to have an exciting opening," said Beneby yesterday. "We're still working on some minor details but there will be entertainment as always. Last season, we had one of the lead singers from Visage perform, and we're looking for something similar this year. It's going to be a big opening. Also, the top four teams will compete against each other on opening night. The Super Value Cybots Queens will take on the Johnson's Lady Truckers, and the Bommer G. Operators will battle the Career Builders Cheetahs in a championship rematch."
The NPWBA will also hand out its awards from the 2012-13 season on opening night.

Awards will be presented for the Most Valuable Player (MVP), the Defensive Player of the Year, and individual awards for Most Points, Most Rebounds, Most Assists, and Most Blocks. As has been the custom for the past two years, rings will also be presented for the league champions, the Bommer G. Operators. The Cheetahs won two straight titles before the Operators defeated them in the finals, three games to two earlier this year.
There will be three rounds of play before the league moves into its playoffs and championship series. The season will stretch from November to April, and as it has always been, the top four teams will advance to the playoffs.
Also, the league's all-star night will be in support of breast cancer again this year, there is a junior and senior girls high school tournament planned for December, and the league's family night and fan appreciation week is set for just after Christmas. During the fan appreciation week, fans in attendance will receive free food and drinks on that the Tuesday of that week, free entry on the Thursday of that week, and there will be local entertainment on the Saturday of that week.
As for the all-star night in support of breast cancer, it will be held in February, and the funds raised will be donated to the Cancer Society of The Bahamas.
Beneby said that they always welcome sponsorship and new ideas, and will continue doing whatever they can and staging new activities to keep the fans interested.
The NPWBA has one of the strongest fan bases in local sports here in New Providence.

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