A historic milestone today, marking exactly 25 years since first the WABA game

On this day a quarter of a century ago, the regional competition – initially known as the EWWL League (European Women’s Welcome League) – officially tipped off.

The historic premiere took place in Zagreb as part of the Zrinski-Frankopan tournament, featuring a matchup between the host team Croatia Zagreb and the Slovenian powerhouse Merkur Celje (74-62).

In that historic opener, Croatia’s Sandra Popovic (Mandir) shone as the game’s top scorer with 23 points. On the opposing side, Merkur Celje’s Mirna Deak—who would go on to be named the MVP of the Final Four in the following 2002/03 season—delivered a dominant performance, recording a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

That opening game laid the foundation for a memorable inaugural 2001/02 season.

Alongside champions Merkur Celje and Croatia Zagreb, the premier edition of the regional league featured four other pioneering clubs: runner-up Sibenik Jolly-JBS (Sibenik, Croatia), Final-Four participant Zeljeznicar (Sarajevo), plus KIK Group Ilirija (Ljubljana, Slovenia), and Klosterneuburg (Austria).

Twenty-five years later, the WABA League continues to honor its roots while serving as a vital platform for top-tier women’s basketball across the region.