In a finale that had Lugogo Indoor Arena on the brink of bedlam, the JKL Lady Dolphins etched their name deeper into Ugandan women’s basketball lore, clinching their fifth National Basketball League (NBL) title in six years with a heart-stopping 69-68 victory over the JT Lady Jaguars in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.
The win capped a dominant playoff run and crowned forward Hope Akello as the undisputed queen of the hardwood MVP of the finals, league’s top scorer, top rebounder, and forward of the season in a sweep of accolades that only a three-peat champion could dream of.
The series had been a grudge match from the jump, with the Dolphins fresh off a flawless 18-0 regular season – seeking to extend their reign after back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. The Jaguars, gritty underdogs who clawed past the UCU Lady Canons in the semis, pushed the champs to the limit, forcing five games of nail-biting basketball. But on this electric Sunday, it was Akello’s poise under pressure that turned potential heartbreak into hardwood history.
Trailing early in the second quarter by 13 points (13-18), the Dolphins looked mortal for the first time in the series. Enter Akello, the 6’2″ forward whose blend of silky mid-range touch and relentless glass-crashing has terrorized defenses all season.
She ignited the comeback with back-to-back jump shots, slicing the deficit to a manageable five (13-18) and sending a jolt through the Dolphin faithful. By halftime, the game was deadlocked at 34-34, the Jaguars’ early fire doused by JKL’s suffocating zone that forced eight turnovers in the frame.
The break proved pivotal for the Dolphins. Emerging from the locker rooms, the Dolphins struck like predators, weaving through screens and crashing the glass to balloon a 10-point lead, they unleashed a 21-11 blitz, capped by forward Angella Zainah Lokwameri’s dagger of a pull-up that swelled the lead to 55-45.
Akello, ever the conductor, orchestrated the surge with crafty drives and outlet passes that sprung wing Becky Longom for transition buckets. The Jaguars scrambled, but their vaunted press faltered against JKL’s veteran ball-handlers, leaving coach Sudi Ulanga Abdulazak’s squad chasing shadows.
Hope Akello puts on fierce fight in Game 5 leading the JKL Lady Dolphins to victory
Game 5’s final ledger read like a shootout: Hope Akello paced the victors with 14 points and a series-high 18 rebounds and 7 Assists, her double-double a microcosm of her season-long dominance (478 points, league-leading). Teammates Ritah Imanishimwe (11 points) and Becky Longom (11 points) joined her in double figures, their balanced attack underscoring why the Dolphins finished the regular season atop the standings.
For the Jaguars, it was a gallant stand that fell just short. Brenda Kayaga erupted for a game-high 24 points, her perimeter bombing keeping JT alive into the fourth. Mercy Batamuliza (14 points, 8 boards) earned defensive player of the year nods for her rim protection, while Maimuna (10 points) provided timely sparks off the bench. But a late foul trouble and cold streak from deep – just 2-of-12 in the second half – sealed their fate, dropping them to silver in a series where they stole two games on the road.
Post-whistle, Akello hoisted the trophy amid confetti and chants of “You have just been axed,” sung by the MVP’s fans, her MVP medal glinting under the lights. Top scorer, top rebounder, forward of the year the 25 year old three-peat champion etched her name in the golden annals of NBL history as one of the rare few to sweep those individual honors in a title-winning season.
The full awards gala added shine to the spectacle:
- Gold: JKL Lady Dolphins
- Silver: JT Lady Jaguars
- Bronze: UCU Lady Canons
- Finals MVP: Hope Akello
- Regular Season MVP: Abigail Mpoza (Jaguars)
- Top Scorer: Hope Akello (478 points)
- Top Rebounder: Hope Akello
- Defensive Player: Mercy Batamuliza (Jaguars)
- Best Five: Evelyn Nakiyingi (Dolphins), Shillah Lamunu (Canons), Abigail Mpoza (Jaguars), Hope Akello (Dolphins), Mercy Batamuliza (Jaguars)
- Best 3-Point Shooter: Hajjara Najjuko (Dolphins)
- Fair Play: Nabisunsa Girls
As the Dolphins celebrate their fifth crown with a staggering 83% success rate over six seasons eyes turn to next year’s BAL qualifiers, where Akello’s star could shine continentally. For now, though, Kampala’s queens have reminded everyone: in Uganda’s NBL, the Dolphins don’t just swim, they soar.
Check out: Wegscheider’s Dagger 3 Buries Blazers: Oilers Steal Game 2 Taking 2-0 Series Lead
