KCCA Leopards Crush Stormers to Secure NBL Bronze

KCCA Leopards completed their 2026 Women’s National Basketball League campaign on a winning note, defeating Magic Stormers 85-57 to secure third place in the final standings. The Leopards produced an impressive display of attacking basketball and defensive discipline, building a commanding advantage early before responding strongly to a brief second-half revival from the Stormers. The 28-point victory provided a fitting conclusion to KCCA’s season and earned them a place on the league podium.

KCCA came into the contest with clear determination to finish their campaign strongly, and that ambition was evident from the opening tip. The Leopards immediately raised the tempo, putting the Stormers under pressure with aggressive defence and quick movement of the ball. Their intensity prevented Magic from establishing a comfortable rhythm and allowed KCCA to create several scoring opportunities in the early stages. The Leopards’ fast start quickly placed them in control of the contest.

Magic Stormers struggled to respond to KCCA’s early pressure as the Leopards continued to attack with purpose. KCCA were particularly effective when transitioning from defence into offence, turning stops and turnovers into points at the other end of the court. Martha Soigi capped a productive opening quarter with a composed layup as the Leopards completed the first period with a commanding 25-10 advantage. The 15-point cushion gave KCCA an excellent foundation for the remainder of the game.

Rather than becoming comfortable with their early lead, the Leopards returned for the second quarter with renewed energy. They opened the period with a quick 4-0 run, putting further distance between themselves and their opponents. KCCA’s pressure around the ball continued to create problems for Magic, while their ability to attack the paint gave them another reliable source of points. The Stormers were repeatedly forced into difficult possessions as the Leopards maintained control of the tempo.

As the second quarter progressed, KCCA’s superiority became even more pronounced. The Leopards capitalised on mistakes by the Stormers and repeatedly converted turnovers into fast-break opportunities. Their dominance around the basket also made it difficult for Magic to find consistent scoring answers. By the time the halftime whistle sounded, KCCA had stretched their advantage to an astonishing 31 points, leaving the Stormers with a huge deficit to overcome after the break.

Despite the difficult position they found themselves in, Magic Stormers returned from halftime with a much-improved approach. Their defensive organisation became more effective, allowing them to disrupt KCCA’s attacking rhythm and slow down the Leopards’ scoring. KCCA managed only 11 points during the third quarter, giving Magic an opportunity to reduce the deficit considerably. The Stormers’ response demonstrated their resilience and ensured that the final period would not simply be a formality.

The improvement in Magic’s defensive performance was matched by greater confidence on the offensive end. Moreen Amoding provided a major scoring contribution, finishing with 15 points to lead the Stormers. Daphine Adong also reached double figures with 14 points, giving Magic another important offensive outlet. Their contributions helped the Stormers cut KCCA’s advantage to 17 points heading into the fourth quarter and briefly raised hopes of an unlikely comeback.

However, KCCA Leopards remained composed despite the shift in momentum. Having seen their huge halftime advantage reduced, they understood the importance of beginning the final quarter strongly. The Leopards increased their pace once again and returned to the transition game that had served them so well during the opening half. Their ability to push the ball quickly created gaps in the Stormers’ defence and enabled KCCA to regain control of the contest.

The fourth quarter quickly became a demonstration of KCCA’s offensive quality and squad depth. The Leopards moved the ball efficiently, attacked open spaces and converted several transition opportunities as they rebuilt their advantage. Magic struggled to maintain the defensive intensity they had shown in the previous quarter, allowing KCCA to restore a comfortable cushion. The Leopards’ response effectively ended any realistic hopes of a Stormers comeback.

KCCA’s success was also built around contributions from several players rather than dependence on one individual scorer. Tracy Namugosa led the Leopards with 14 points, providing an important offensive contribution throughout the game. Asinah Kabendera added 13 points, while Lillian Cherotic finished with 12. The balanced scoring effort reflected the depth within the KCCA roster and made it difficult for Magic to contain the Leopards’ attack.

For Magic Stormers, the defeat brought a difficult conclusion to their campaign despite their encouraging third-quarter response. Their improved defensive work after halftime showed their ability to compete, while the performances of Amoding and Adong provided positive individual highlights. However, the damage caused by KCCA’s explosive opening half proved too significant to overcome, with the Stormers ultimately unable to maintain their fightback into the final quarter.

KCCA Leopards eventually completed the contest with an emphatic 85-57 victory, finishing their league campaign in third position. Their performance was defined by a combination of early defensive pressure, efficient transition basketball, strong work in the paint and balanced scoring. After overcoming Magic Stormers by 28 points, the Leopards can take confidence from their podium finish as they look ahead to future challenges in Uganda’s women’s basketball scene.