Our favourite annual series continues as we ask WBBL Coaches to identify five players they believe deserve some recognition for their efforts this season.

They may not always be those challenging for awards, but they will have certainly impressed our play-callers. Next in line is back-to-back BBL Championship winning head coach, Dave Greenaway of Nottingham Wildcats.

Anne Pedersen (Sevenoaks Suns)

Anne has been a vital reason for the success of Sevenoaks this season. She is such a versatile and efficient player, who contributes across the board in the stats line. But her biggest attribute and one of the many reasons I admire her as a player is her high basketball IQ, which makes her very proficient on offense and she is also the defensive anchor for her side. It was fitting that on the biggest stage for her team so far this season, she showed her all-around capabilities and was the MVP of the WBBL Trophy Final.

 

Siobhan Prior (Nottingham Wildcats)

‘Shevy P’ has been a player who has been overlooked in regards to her defensive ability – on and off the ball. Her ability to read the game on defence is one of the reasons she led the league in steals and has been in the top 3 in steals every year in the WBBL. We all know how good a shooter she is, but she has expanded her game offensively. What she also brings to our team is a passion for the game and a level of competitiveness that drives her. Throughout this season she has had to take on a lot more responsibility on the offensive end as our team went through different personnel changes. What am mostly pleased of is seeing the growth in her overall play and accepting a leadership challenge and learning in the process.

 

Alison Gorrell (Team Northumbria)

The ‘Swiss Army Knife’ for Northumbria who has been asked by Coach Bunten to assume every playing role on the team. With her side’s woes in regards to injuries, Alison has been called upon to lead the team offensively and then defend the other teams’ best perimeter option, rebound, plus facilitate. She is a tough competitor and never seems to be fazed by anything on the court. Alison is one of those players that you would want on your team and is a reliable top performer.

 

Diana Naydenova-Goryanova (Barking Abbey Crusaders)

For me this is more of personal pick which goes beyond stats or wins and losses. I have the utmost respect for Diana who has been a great servant to the game throughout her career and an integral component for Barking Abbey’s performances. Her leadership, experience and selfless play has buoyed the young players at Barking, on and off the court. She’s a tough competitor and a coaches dream at the point guard position who makes everyone around her better.

 

Alex Smith (Leicester Riders)

Leicester has had a great season and although Coach Harber’s side has been functioning as a well oiled machine, the player that makes this team go is Alex Smith. Alex is a consistent performer and leads her team in assists, minutes played and is in the top 3 in scoring and rebounds, for a team that has made the Trophy final and finished 2nd in the League. Now in her second season in the WBBL, she has raised the bar for her team and has seemingly assumed a leadership role.

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