The Women's Nepal Basketball League, first of its kind in Nepal, begins on Saturday providing respite to several women hoopsters who for a long time had not had the opportunity to compete in a longer length of tournament.

The round robin league tournament features 12 teams with four teams competing in the event. Nepal Police Club, Samriddhi Gorillas, Saipal Academy and ISO Kite will play with each other with the top two teams making it to the final. Unlike the men's game where the top four teams compete in a three-match playoffs, the women will directly play the final.

Both the men's and women's finals are slated for June 22 at the National Sports Council covered hall. All the league games in the women's league will be held at the Times International College in Charkhal. Organisers Play for Deprived Children Nepal had initially announced a five-team women's league but informed on Friday that departmental side Tribhuvan Army Club has pulled out citing technical reasons.

National women's team skipper Sadina Shrestha, who will be leading Samriddhi Gorillas in the league, was relieved to get the game she had longed for. "We had to go through a lot of problems and the league was still in doubt due to unavailability of venues. I really appreciate how the organisers pushed to make this tournament happen," said Shrestha.

"We don't have any proper schedule for the women's team and the 12 members from the national team got to play a tournament in one and half year last month in the eighth National Games. Its because whenever anyone organised a basketball tournament, they will bar the national players. I think the league is finally a big respite for us," added Shrestha.

Times President Tika Ram Sapkota said hosting the women's league had reasons. "We have seen how games like franchise cricket and football have boomed in Nepal. We thought that its our responsibility as well to contribute to women's league. This is just a small gesture to uplift the standard of women's basketball in Nepal," Sapkota said.