CAIRO (Egypt) - All systems are go at the Al Ahly Sporting Club Arena in Cairo, where the reigning silver medallists are hosting this year's Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA). Twelve teams are competing, with the winners to be crowned on Sunday, 14 December.
FIBA.basketball takes a look at some of the players who could influence their team's performance and continue to make their mark on the history of African basketball.
Soraya Degheidy (Al Ahly SC)
Nicknamed the 'Queen of Egypt', the 30-year-old has returned to the continental scene after missing out since 2023.
She played a part in Al Ahly SC’s successful run at the 2019 FIBA Africa Women’s Champions Cup, where they won bronze.
However, she missed their return last year, when they came second. Her engaging court craft and impressive skill set will be crucial for the hosts as they look to secure their first title at home.
Yacine Diop ( APR)
Diop, a 2023 champion with Sporting Alexandria, is back in the club competition with Rwanda's APR, ready to repeat her exploits in Egypt three years ago.
The former African U18 Most Valuable Player averaged 15.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in the qualifiers, and her performance will be crucial for the side coached by Charles Mushumba as they look to better their third-place finish on their debut last year.
Rokia Doumbia (FBA)
Fresh from leading her national team to silver at the 2025 Women's AfroBasket, the Malian international joins the Ivorian side for her debut in an African club competition as the team makes a second appearance at the WBLA.
The former University of Kansas guard and 2015 U16 MVP can play both inside and outside, as was evident when she returned to the Women's AfroBasket this year.
The left-handed player led the team in assists with an average of 4.2, and is eager to make her club competition debut count.
Ingvil Mucauro (Ferroviario de Maputo)
The 2019 MVP needs no introduction. When Ferroviario de Maputo secured their third title in six finals last year, she was a standout player, averaging 12.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the club's 6-0 run.
In the final, the four-time finalist delivered a man-of-the-match performance despite fouling out in the last two crucial minutes. She scored 18 points, had seven rebounds and as many steals, and provided four assists to lead her side to victory.
Ferroviário de Maputo are hoping to reach their seventh final in Egypt, which would put them on a par with Angola's Inter Clube de Luanda in terms of number of finals reached.
Hagar Amer (Al Ahly Sporting Club)
Amer, a 2022 MVP, led Sporting Alexandria to back-to-back titles when the WBLA underwent a rebranding phase, changing its name from the FIBA Africa Champions Cup to the Africa Women's Basketball League. She is making a comeback in continental competition, this time with Al Ahly SC.
A household name in Egyptian and African basketball, the 1.83 m centre was named in the 2023 team of the tournament alongside the MVP.
She will be looking to display her dominance in the paint as she bids for her third continental title.
Destiny Philoxy (APR)
The Rwandan shooting guard, a true floor general, is making her third WBLA appearance.
She switched from Rwanda Energy Group (REG), where she led the team to fourth place in 2023 and sixth place in 2024.
She marshalled the squad to victory in the FIBA Africa Zone 5 tournament, finishing with an average score of 13.3.
Although she lacks height, she makes up for it with speed and spectacular shooting from deep. She can also drive to the basket to score with hook shots, making her the go-to guard for the reigning bronze medallists, who are chasing their first title.
Delicia Washington (Al Ahly Sporting Club)
The South Sudanese point guard took African basketball by storm during the 2025 Women's AfroBasket, leading the East African debutants to the bronze medal with her spectacular ball-handling skills and an average of 18.2 points per game.
As she makes her club competition debut, she brings immense experience from the 2025 EuroCup Women, where she averaged 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds while playing for IDK Euskotren.
Italee Lucas (APR)
A former competition MVP, Lucas' experience runs deep, with her signature shot from range carrying her teams through any challenge as was evidenced in 2024 when APR beat hosts ASC Ville de Dakar to third place. She was part of Angola's Inter Clube squad from 2013 to 2023, winning the continental title thrice (2013, 2014, 2016), while reaching six finals. She is expected to partner the indifatigable Kamba Yoro Diakite who was the star of the show in the side's qualifiers, Diop and Philoxy in a star-studded squad chasing a maiden title.
Anabela Cossa (Ferroviario de Maputo)
The Mozambican shooting guard has reached the podium of the top African women's club competition eight times, winning four times: twice with Desportivo de Maputo (in 2007 and 2008) and twice with Ferroviário de Maputo (in 2018 and 2024). She is now aiming for a fifth victory.M
Last year, she was her team's top scorer, averaging 15 points per game. Her three-point shooting commands admiration from fans. She dropped 8 of 14 in last year's semi-finals, achieving a 57.1 per cent conversion rate and helping her team beat marauding APR 86–72 to reach the final.
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