Victoria Queens Expose Dolphins’ Rebuilding Woes in Port Harcourt

Posted : 10 September 2026

Dolphins Basketball Club’s difficult second phase took another turn for the worse on Wednesday as Victoria Queens inflicted a fifth straight defeat on the defending champions in the Zenith Bank Women’s Premier League.

Victoria Queens secured a 45–32 victory at the Basketball Stadium in Port Harcourt, taking advantage of Dolphins’ struggles to turn possession and opportunities into points.

The defeat further underlined the challenges confronting Dolphins, whose rebuilt squad has found it difficult to reproduce the form that delivered the league title last season.

Victoria started brightly, edging the opening quarter 13–11 before maintaining their advantage to lead 25–20 at halftime.

Dolphins remained within touching distance after the third quarter, but the defending champions could not produce the offensive response needed to change the direction of the game.

Victoria outscored Dolphins 11–4 in the final quarter to seal a comfortable 13-point victory.

Dolphins combo guard Ekormah Ngozi said the players were disappointed by their inability to convert their preparation into victories but insisted that the team remained determined to improve.

“It’s very heartbreaking because we have planned a lot of things, we have practised, and it was just so sad that we were not able to win any of the games.

“But we still keep pushing and hoping for the best,” Ngozi said.

The guard identified inexperience as one of the major challenges facing the team, explaining that only a few members of the current squad have substantial experience at the highest level.

She said the difference became apparent against Victoria Queens, despite the relatively young composition of both teams.

According to Ngozi, Victoria’s greater familiarity and understanding as a group gave them an advantage, having played together for a longer period.

Rather than allow the difficult campaign to define the team, Ngozi said Dolphins were already looking ahead to the next season, promising a stronger response.

“Next season you should be expecting more physicality, more wins, more aggressiveness, and more highlights,” she said.

Meanwhile, MFM Basketball Club produced the biggest result of the day, crushing Bayelsa Blue Whales 77–21 in the opening fixture.

First Deep Waters edged IGP Queens 36–32 in a low-scoring encounter, while First Bank completed the day’s action with an emphatic 83–28 victory over Royal Aces.

The results highlighted contrasting fortunes among the teams, with Dolphins facing a rebuilding exercise while their rivals continue to strengthen their campaigns.

Victoria Queens Expose Dolphins’ Rebuilding Woes in Port Harcourt

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