Doha: The Qatar Women’s Basketball League (2025-2026) will reach a critical juncture on Tuesday as the third phase heads into its penultimate round, with two key matches scheduled at the Federation Hall on Tuesday evening.
Both encounters will tip off simultaneously at 8:00pm, as teams battle for vital points with only one round remaining after this.
In the marquee clash, third-placed Al Khor will face table-toppers Al Gharafa, while Al Shamal take on Al Adaam in the other fixture.
Al Gharafa currently sit atop the standings with 8 points, having demonstrated strong technical ability, solid defence, swift transitions and dominance under the basket throughout the season. A victory against Al Khor would bring the leaders within touching distance of the title ahead of the final round on April 10.
The defending pace-setters previously defeated Al Adaam 86-55 in convincing fashion, underlining their superiority.
Al Khor, meanwhile, head into the contest buoyed by their first win of the competition in the previous round, edging Al Shamal 66-60. The result highlighted the team’s growing ability to perform under pressure. With 6 points, Al Khor will be eager to build on that momentum and secure a positive result against the leaders.
In the second match, second-placed Al Shamal (7 points) face Al Adaam. Al Shamal will be determined to keep the pressure on Al Gharafa and stay firmly in title contention. Consistency has been their strength, but they must maintain high concentration levels at this decisive stage of the season.
Al Adaam are competing primarily for development purposes, with their results not counting towards the official standings. Nevertheless, the side continues to deliver competitive performances and provide valuable experience for their players, often posing a stern test for their opponents.
This penultimate round serves as the last opportunity for teams to fine-tune their strategies before the final matches on Friday, April 10, which will feature Al Gharafa against Al Shamal and Al Khor against Al Adaam. With points margins remaining tight, the championship battle is expected to go down to the wire.
The 2025-2026 season is being played in three phases, a format introduced by the Qatar Basketball Federation to boost competitiveness and provide players with more matches to enhance their technical and physical development. The team accumulating the highest points across all phases will be crowned champions.
