Wellington Saints to Face Southland Sharks in Historic 2026 NZNBL Grand Final Rematch

The 2026 New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) season will culminate in a historic clash on Sunday, as the Wellington Saints and Southland Sharks meet in a highly anticipated Grand Final rematch.[4][6]

For the Southland Sharks, the weekend represents a monumental milestone. After 17 years in the league, the franchise has finally earned the right to host a Grand Final on their home floor at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill.[3]

The Sharks secured their historic home-court advantage by defeating the Canterbury Rams 84-74 in a hard-fought semi-final matchup.[3][5]

Southland's victory was propelled by a clutch performance from Caleb Asberry, who poured in a game-high 26 points. Asberry took control in the fourth quarter, scoring eight crucial points down the stretch to help the Sharks pull away from a tense 63-63 tie.[3]

Standing in their way are the defending champion Wellington Saints, who enter the Grand Final riding a wave of dominant postseason momentum.[2][4]

The fourth-seeded Saints delivered a stunning upset in their semi-final, dismantling the top-seeded Auckland Tuatara with a resounding 112-69 victory. The 43-point demolition silenced the Auckland crowd and served as a stark warning to the rest of the league.[2][5]

Wellington's explosive offense is spearheaded by newly crowned 2026 NZNBL MVP Elijah Pepper. The Perth Wildcats guard has been the standout player of the season, averaging a league-high 28.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.[1][2]

Pepper continued his stellar form in the playoffs, following up a 33-point elimination final performance with 32 points and seven rebounds in the semi-final rout of Auckland.[2]

Sunday's matchup is a direct rematch of the 2025 Grand Final, where Wellington edged out Southland 88-83 to claim their 13th championship banner.[4]

While Southland boasts three national titles from 2013, 2015, and 2018, all of those championships were secured on the road. The opportunity to lift the trophy in front of their passionate home fans in Invercargill adds an unprecedented emotional layer to the contest.[3]

The tactical battle will pit Wellington's league-leading offense—which averaged 100.4 points per game during the regular season—against Southland's gritty resilience and the undeniable energy of a home crowd.[1][3]

With tip-off scheduled for 3:00 PM local time, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 2026 NZNBL season, promising either a historic first home celebration for the Sharks or a successful title defense for the storied Saints franchise.[3][4]