One of the most exciting young talents in British Basketball played a starring role in one of the most incredible stories of the last WBBL season, but now Holly Winterburn wants even more for herself and the mighty London Lions as the new campaign approaches.
London get their campaign underway with a double-header against the Oaklands Wolves and Sevenoaks Suns this weekend and Winterburn, whose highlights have been all over social media this summer from the Lions’ pre-season campaign and her work with renowned Skills Coach Gary Maitland, is eager to get going as she reflected on her and the team’s growth last year.
“Last year we had a new roster come in, it was our first time in EuroCup and it was all very new, so there was a lot of figuring out to do, but from that first qualifier in Crystal Palace we just went from strength to strength and got to a really good place as a team. We learnt so much, grew every single game and put good foundations in place, so this year we just want to exceed them.
“I was pleased (with my own performances), but I think I struggled to put together the performances I’d have wanted to do consistently, and that is something I’ve worked on a lot since and will continue to do so. It was a huge year of growth for me, so I hope to take that to another level this year.
“I’ve concentrated on levelling up in every single area over the summer. From developing the consistency of my shot, to working on improving my scoring in every different way so that I can take whatever the defence gives me. Practice makes perfect so if I keep putting the work in then I’ll be full of confidence going into the games.”
“When it comes to EuroCup we have ambitions to go as far as possible.”
It has been a whopping 512 days at the time of writing since the Lions last tasted defeat in the WBBL, and with the roster reigning WBBL Coach of the Year Mark Clark has built for the forthcoming campaign, London will be expected to be the team to beat again this season.
Winterburn discussed how she sees the challenges that lay ahead for the team in the coming weeks, as well as their longer-term ambitions for the campaign and her belief that this current roster is much-improved to last year.
“The biggest challenge for us last year was to keep our performances at our level, so that will be a big focus for us in the next month of games in the WBBL before we go into Europe. We need to keep ourselves accountable and make sure that we play at our highest level possible regardless of who we’re against.
“When it comes to EuroCup, we have ambitions to go as far as possible and reach the final eight or final four, so we just have to keep building towards that.
“We have a lot more size this year. We’ve recruited really well to bring in some great new players that have brought a lot to the team and we’ve got a bit of everything so I feel we’re a lot better than last year as a group already.”
“I’m grateful for the experience that we had with her.”
The Lions will be without one of their biggest stars and an all-time basketball great this season as the Olympian Jo Leedham-Warner has retired after helping lead London to their all-conquering campaign last year. Winterburn discussed the impact the Great Britain legend had on the team during her 12 months in the capital, and how the team will look to build on her legacy.
“Jo is Jo and she’s had an amazing career, but we aren’t the same player so all I could do last year is take what makes her great as a player and learn as much as I could from that for my own game. She’s one of the toughest players to ever play the game, so I tried to take that to my game and so did the whole team.
“If any of us miss a box-out or anything like that, we know it isn’t good enough, and that relentless attitude that we learnt from Jo is something that will stay with the Lions forever now, because she set that culture and we’re going to continue it.
“We’ll miss her toughness, the example she set and her leadership, but that means people like me need to grow into leaders. I’m grateful for the experience that we had with her, and we’re going to take her legacy forward.”
The Lions tip-off their WBBL Championship defence on Saturday September 24 against Oaklands Wolves before welcoming the Sevenoaks Suns to the Copper Box on Sunday September 25 for a rematch of last season’s Play-off and Trophy Finals. You can watch the Lions, and every WBBL team, in action live and for free on the WBBL YouTube channel.