Ipswich celebrate second successive WNBL D1 title

Image credit: Marvin Isebor

Ipswich have successfully defended their WNBL Division 1 title after beating Loughborough Riders 92-54 to confirm top spot.

Nick Drane’s side were awarded the league title when last season was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic – and their latest win puts them at 15-2 with one game to spare in another disrupted campaign.

The hosts opened up a 26-9 advantage through 10 minutes before extending the gap with a 10-0 start to the second. Ipswich’s lead moved beyond the 30-point barrier in the contest against their second-placed opponents to win in convincing fashion.

Esther Little recorded 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting along with 16 rebounds and eight blocks with fellow junior Cameron Taylor-Willis firing in a game-high of 26 points with eight rebounds. Leading MVP candidate Harriet Welham added 18 points in the win.

Ipswich had seen their unbeaten start to the season end in their previous meeting with Loughborough, in December, after Makana Stone’s game-winner sealed a one-point triumph.

Four consecutive victories followed upon their resumption in February before suffering a first home loss to Nottingham Trent University. Ipswich were quick to return to winning ways again with momentum with them ahead of the playoffs that start later this month.

Do you like our work?

We have a tiny favour to ask. In 2018 we set out to make Hoopsfix sustainable by building our relationship directly with our readers. Up until now, Hoopsfix has been creating editorials, videos and podcasts to provide sorely missing coverage of the British game and its distinct culture and community.

We have funded Hoopsfix with our freelance work creating basketball media, but sadly that means not only does it fall behind our client’s priorities, but some of those clients are the same organisations we need to report objectively on putting us in a conflicted position.

We want to devote more time to our mission of helping British basketball reach its potential, and produce even more content for the basketball community by making Hoopsfix a sustainable 100% independent business funded directly by our readers through Patreon.

If everyone who enjoys our content chose to support us, our future would be much more secure. For as little as $3 per month, you can support Hoopsfix – and it only takes a minute.

We are tremendously honoured and humbled to have a community of people who value what we do, and we look forward to being at the forefront of the British game as it continues to evolve.

Support Hoopsfix