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Naisten Korisliiga
Formerly	Koripallon naisten SM-sarja, 1944-2013
Sport	Basketball
Founded	1944
First season	1944-45
No. of teams	10
Country	Finland
Most recent; champion(s)	Peli-Karhut; (5nd title)
Most titles	Forssan Alku, Sampo Basket, Tampereen Pyrintö, Nokian Urheilijat; (8 titles)
TV partner(s)	YLE TV2
Relegation to	Naisten I Divisioona
Domestic cup(s)	Finnish Championship
Official website	Korisliiga.fi

Naisten Korisliiga (Women's Basketball League) is the highest tier of women's basketball in Finland. The competition was formerly known as Koripallon naisten SM-sarja (Women's Basketball Finnish Championship) and was renamed Naisten Korisliiga for the 2013-14 season.

History

Women's Finnish Championship was first introduced in 1944. The first championship was won by Helsingin Tarmo. In the 1940s, the league had six teams and the title was awarded after the regular season. In 1953 the number of teams was raised to ten. Postseason playoffs were first played in the 1973-74 season, with Nokian Urheilijat emerging victorious after defeating first Tapiolan Honka (2-1) in the Semifinals and then Työväen Mailapojat (2-1) in the Finals.^[1]

For the 2014-15 season, the league has 10 teams and each team plays each other three times in the regular season, resulting in 27 games per team. The top 8 teams continue to postseason playoffs which are played in Best-of-five format. The team placed last after the regular season is relegated to Naisten I Divisioona (English: Women's First Division).^[2]

Lea Hakala could be seen as the most influential player so far in the history of Naisten Korisliiga. Hakala played 25 seasons in the league and currently leads the record for career points. She has won the championship title for record-breaking 15 times and she has also been awarded the Player of the Year Award for 4 times.^[3]

Current teams

Teams competing in the 2019–20 Naisten Korisliiga season:

Recent champions

Season	Champion	Runner-up	Score	Third place
2018-19	Peli-Karhut	Catz Lappeenranta	3-2	Hyvinkään Ponteva
2017-18	Peli-Karhut	Catz Lappeenranta	3-2	Hyvinkään Ponteva
2016-17	Hyvinkään Ponteva	Espoo United	3-1	Catz Lappeenranta
2015-16	Catz Lappeenranta	Hyvinkään Ponteva	3-0	Äänekosken Huima
2014-15	Catz Lappeenranta	Äänekosken Huima	3-0	Torpan Pojat
2013-14	Catz Lappeenranta	Peli-Karhut	3-1	Torpan Pojat
2012-13	Catz Lappeenranta	Peli-Karhut	3-0	Tapiolan Honka
2011–12	Catz Lappeenranta	Äänekosken Huima	3–2	Peli-Karhut
2010-11	Peli-Karhut	Catz Lappeenranta	3–1	Espoo Team
2009-10	Catz Lappeenranta	Peli-Karhut	3–0	Espoo Team
2008-09	Espoo Team	Catz Lappeenranta	3–1	Peli-Karhut
2007-08	Peli-Karhut	Catz Lappeenranta	3–1	Helsingin NMKY
2006-07	Peli-Karhut	Catz Lappeenranta	3–2	Äänekosken Huima
2005-06	Pantterit	Äänekosken Huima	3–2	BC Nokia
2004-05	BC Nokia	Pantterit	3–1	Peli-Karhut

List of champions

Team	Titles	Season
Nokian Urheilijat	8	1971-72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980-81
Tampereen Pyrintö	8	1950, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86
Sampo Basket	8	1965-66, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1976–77, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987-88
Forssan Alku	8	1988-89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998-99
Helsingin Työväen Uimarit	6	1960, 1961, 1962, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65
Pantterit	5	1999-00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06
Peli-Karhut	5	2006-07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2017–18, 2018–19
Catz Lappeenranta	4	2009-10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013-14
Eiran Kisa-Veikot	3	1945, 1946, 1949
Helsingin Tarmo	3	1944, 1948, 1954
Helsingin Visa	2	1956, 1959
Jyväskylän Kiri	2	1970-71, 1972–73
Pussihukat	2	1990-91, 1991–92
Porin Veto	1	1951
Lahden Koripalloilijat	1	1952
Helsingin Kisa-Toverit	1	1966-67
Työväen Maila-Pojat	1	1967-68
Turun Riento	1	1989-90
Äänekosken Huima	1	2002-03
BC Nokia	1	2004-05
Espoo Team	1	2008-09

Records

Career

At least 100 or more games played in the league

Most points: 11563
- Lea Hakala
Highest points per game average: 19.23
- Heli Roukanoja
Most assists: 1179
- Kenya Robinson
Highest assists per game average: 3.26
- Reetta Piipari
Most rebounds: 6578
- Kenya Robinson
Highest rebounds per game average: 12.46
- Kenya Robinson
Highest efficiency: 12294
- Kenya Robinson
Highest efficiency per game average: 31.15
- Anna Hollos

Season

Has played in at least 50% of the season's games

Most points: 911
- Melissa Jeltema (Tapiolan Honka), 2012–13
Highest points per game average: 26.47
- Medina Turner (Äänekosken Huima), 1996–97
Most assists: 172
- Reetta Piipari (Peli-Karhut), 2013–14
Highest assists per game average: 6.15
- Nikki Speed, (HoNsU), 2013–14
Most rebounds: 575
- Shauna Tubbs (Äänekosken Huima), 1997–98
Highest rebounds per game average: 17.14
- Sarah Zawodny (Forssan Alku), 2002–03
Highest efficiency: 1290
- Keisha Johnson (Tampereen Pyrintö), 1994–95
Highest efficiency per game average: 36.95
- Jennie Hall (Nokian Urheilijat), 1983–84

Match

Most points: 53
- Nina Pajanti-Raudus (Forssan Alku), vs. Peli-Karhut (121-82), 10-21-1995
Most assists: 16
- Erja Laaksonen (HNMKY), vs. Tapiolan Honka, (83-73), 10-24-1999
Most rebounds: 32
- Oberon Pitterson (Tampereen Pyrintö), vs. Äänekosken Huima (78-58), 10-12-1996
Highest efficiency: 67
- Oberon Pitterson (Tampereen Pyrintö), vs. Äänekosken Huima (78-58), 10-12-1996

All records include both regular season and playoffs. Updated as of season 2013-14 ^[4]

References

^ "Naisten Korisliiga History". Basket.fi. Finnish Basketball Association. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
^ "Naisten Korisliiga Rules & Regulations". Basket.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Basketball Association. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
^ "Lea Hakala". Basket.fi. Finnish Basketball Association. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
^ "Tilastot / Pelaajatilastot". Basket.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Basketball Association. Retrieved 10 November 2014.