Late Sunday night an email came into the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association.
It said the league standings ‘are a mess.’
And it was meant in a good way.
Indeed, the MWBA standings are an ever-changing battle between the second and sixth seeds to this point, meaning the last week of the regular season is shaping up to be a doozy with some major playoff ramifications.
Why?
Well, let’s delve into it as the lead-in to our weekly MWBA News ‘N Notes feature as Week VI beckons.
No one is assured of anything, even Halifax Thunder which sits as the league’s only undefeated team with a perfect 7-0 mark and three games left to play.
Thunder and city rival Halifax Hornets meet in a key showdown Wednesday night. A Thunder win assures it of first place overall, but a Hornets’ triumph would set some intrigue depending on point spread.
The MWBA uses points for in head-to-head action in case of a potential deadlock record-wise in the standings.
Then again, a Thunder win will have the Hornets looking over their shoulders at the Lake City 56ers of Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Preston.
Both teams have 10 points, the Hornets at 5-3 and Lake City at 5-4.
First place in each province faces a provincial rival that finished fourth. First in Nova Scotia will draw expansion and winless Truro Tidal Queens in the first round while second and third is going to be a battle.
The Hornets and Lake City actually go head-to-head on Saturday in a 3 p.m., game at Dartmouth’s Zatzman SportsPlex.
The Halifax squad defeated the 56ers, 105-73 earlier this season.
That’s just the tip of the ‘what if?’ category because it extends into New Brunswick as well.
Moncton Mystics appear on their way to a first-ever N.B., regular season crown, sitting in second place overall with a 6-2 record. If the season ended today, Moncton would meet Miramichi HerIcanes (2-7) in the playoff semifinal.
A real battle is brewing for second spot in NB with the Port City Fog of Saint John sitting at 4-4 for eight points following a huge win at home Sunday over the Hornets.
Fredericton Freeze is 3-4 entering a pivotal showdown Thursday night at home against Moncton. The Freeze has three games remaining and Port City has two.
Should the teams finish tied with 5-5 records, Freeze would earn home court playoff advantage for more points for following a regular season series split, each team winning in its own barn.
Clear as mud?
The provincial semifinal winners earn an automatic berth in the PRO•LINE Legacy Cup Final Four championship weekend, set for June 20 to 21 at the Richard J. Currie Center on the campus of the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.
All playoff action will be held the June 13 to 14 weekend.
Dates and times will be determined once the playoff matchups are set.
*The all-Halifax clash will be Wednesday at 7 p.m., with the Hornets hosting Thunder at Mount St. Vincent University.
*Fredericton welcomes Moncton to the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
*It gets very busy on Saturday with all eight teams in action. Hornets and 56ers clash at 3 p.m., in Dartmouth and Fredericton visits Thunder at 5 p.m., (note time change from 3 p.m.) at Mount St Vincent. Another 5 p.m., outing puts Port City at Truro at Truro Junior High School. The final game of the day is at 6 p.m., when the HerIcanes welcome Moncton to Miramichi Valley High School.
*The final day of the regular season goes Sunday with two games including Freeze at Truro at noon hour at TJHS and Port City facing the Thunder at 3 p.m., at HGS.
*The PRO•LINE Legacy Cup will see the first semifinal set for 5 p.m., on Saturday, June 20 at the RJCC. The second semifinal will be played at 7:30 p.m. Championship game goes Sunday, June 22, at 2 p.m. The third place contest unfolds prior to the final at 11:30 a.m. All championship weekend games will be Pay Per View on AO Live with Bill Gibson on the calls.
*MWBA officials are in the midst of expansion talks for potential growth in 2027. A Cape Breton group is interested and will be meeting with the league’s expansion committee next week. Details will follow. If you are interested in learning more about an expansion opportunity, simply email mwba.league@gmail.com
*The Wonder Auto&Tire Player of the Week will be announced Tuesday.
*The MWBA cannot thank its presenting partner PRO•LINEand its Official Electrolyte provider Cira Nutrition for its support during the 2026 season. Stay hydrated this summer with Cira Nutrition, and receive 15% off all Cira Nutrition products with discount code MWBA15 at this link https://ciranutrition.com/
– The MWBA standings are as crowded as the key during a Fredericton-Lake City game on the weekend. (Fran Harris Photo)
