The road to the O2: Play-Offs explained

As we head into the penultimate round of the regular season, teams are still battling it out to secure their position on the league table to see who they will play in this year's newly formatted Play-Offs.  

After 14 regular rounds the new post-season format will feature a Major and Minor Semi-Finals followed by the Preliminary Final.  

This new edition to the League ensures a longer post-season format across the course of three weekends and will be scheduled as follows:  

WEEKEND 1: 20-22 June 2025  

Major Semi Final: 1st place (home venue) v 2nd place from the regular season where the winner will progress straight to the Grand Final. 

Minor Semi Final: 3rd place (home venue) v 4th place from the regular season where the winner will play the loser from the Major Semi Final in the new Preliminary Final. 

WEEKEND 2: 28-29 June 2025 

Preliminary Final: Loser of Major Semi Final (home venue) v Winner of Minor Semi Final which provides another chance to get into the Grand Final for the Major Semi Final loser. 

GRAND FINAL: 6 July 2025 

Winner of the Major Semi Final v Winner of Preliminary Final at The O2 Arena. Tickets are available here.

The new structure will allow the top two teams to have a second chance to make the Grand Final as they could potentially lose in the Major Semi Final, but a win in the Preliminary Final would see them progress to the Grand Final. The third and fourth placed teams from the regular season need to win two Play-Off matches to secure a place in the Grand Final; and so this season there will be greater emphasis than previously on the League standings throughout the season.  

Going into round 13, London Pulse currently sit top of the table with 31 points but only two points separates them from the reigning champions Loughborough Lightning. Both sides secured their Top Four place in round 11 and both will be pushing for a top of the table finish to secure a home Semi Final spot. 

Manchester Thunder who currently sit third in the in the table on 28 points confirmed their Top Four position after beating LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons last weekend but will play the next two rounds to determine their final spot in the table and who and where they will play their Semi Final game. 

The race for the fourth spot is still to be decided between London Mavericks (who are currently in that crucial fourth spot) and debutants Nottingham Forest Netball who sit currently in fifth place with six points between them. 

London Mavericks just need one point to secure their place in the Top Four. They play Loughborough Lightning this weekend (7 June) and Manchester Thunder (14 June).  

Nottingham Forest Netball need six points from their next two games, meaning they have to win both of their final two games, plus for London Mavericks not to secure a point. They play Birmingham Panthers this evening (5 June) and NIC Leeds Rhinos in the final regular round of the season (15 June). 

Games for rounds 13 and 14 will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and BBC Sport; find out where to watch here.

Tickets for the Grand Final at the O2 Arena are currently on sale here. Courtside seats are already sold out and standard and premium are selling fast; making this the hottest ticket in town and the perfect chance to get together with friends, family and anyone who loves the thrill of live sports for the pinnacle of the NSL season this summer.  

Buy Grand Final tickets now.