Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the champions, are a match away from sealing their 20th Kenya Basketball Federation Women’s Premier League title.
The Dockers' head coach Samuel Ocholla is urging his players to finish with a flourish against Equity Bank Hawks on Saturday at the Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa.
“We expected some resistance, but the play-offs have been easier than we anticipated. Game three should really be the icing on the cake, but no one wants to be swept aside so easily,” warned Ocholla, who urged her players not to lose focus. “The Hawks will be vengeful.”
The Dockers took a decisive 2–0 lead in the best-of-five final series last weekend in Nairobi, sweeping the Hawks aside 88–41 and 84–56 in games one and two respectively.
“My players are more determined since we had good preparation for the season, which has resulted in a well-oiled defence and attack coupled with good physical strength,” said Ocholla. “Our great depth and teamwork have been key.”
She singled out their power forward, Christine Akinyi, whom they acquired from Zetech University Sparks this season, and Malian international point guard Djelika Tounkara, for their outstanding performances.
Tounkara scored 20 points, collected 12 rebounds and made two assists and 11 steals during game two at Kasarani stadium.
This is the seventh time the two giants have faced off in the final, but the first since the 2023/24 season, when the Equity Hawks dethroned the Dockers in a dramatic 3–2 series. The Hawks won game five 76–74 in overtime.
The Dockers bounced back last season (2024/25) to reclaim the title and secure their 19th cup victory, defeating Zetech University Sparks in a 3–0 series.
Of their last 12 final appearances, the Dockers have won five times, in 2013, 2017, 2018, 2021/22 and 2025, and remain unbeaten this season.
Before Zetech University Sparks shocked many by reaching the final after beating Strathmore University, KPA and Equity Bank Hawks had met in six consecutive finals. Then the Dockers waylaid KPA.
The two teams have won three finals each, but the Dockers are expected to break the stalemate on Saturday.
The Hawks defeated KPA 3–2 in the best-of-five series to win their maiden Women's Premier League title in 2016, and the two teams then met in the 2017 final, where the Dockers exacted revenge by winning 3–0.
Equity reclaimed the crown in 2018, sweeping aside the Dockers 3–0, and retained it in 2019 with a 3–1 series victory.
After the game returned from the Covid-19 recess, KPA retained the trophy in the 2021/22 season with a 3–1 victory, only for the Hawks to win the accolades in the 2023/24 season.
