The first monthly award of the 2022-23 WBBL campaign have gone to a familiar face in London Lions’ Head Coach Mark Clark, who picks up the Molten WBBL Coach of the Month award for September and October as the new-look Lions have picked up where they left off from last season’s undefeated domestic campaign.

Coach Clark reloaded his roster over the summer with the impressive additions of former WNBA forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, double-double machine Ty Battle, and point guard Taylor Murray from powerhouse University of Kentucky, alongside an established and successful returning British core.

His team have started a perfect 4-0 as early pace-setters, and there was no easing their way into the campaign for Lions as they faced Sevenoaks Suns, Leicester Riders and Sheffield Hatters already – respectively, the team that pushed them all the way last season, and two teams that have beaten all of their other opponents so far this time round, both of whom Lions faced on the road.

After a big win over Oaklands Wolves, they beat Sevenoaks 83-72 at the Copper Box Arena behind a strong first half and a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds from Herbert Harrigan.

That was followed by a trip to Leicester where a formidable defensive stand led to a comfortable victory, before holding off Sheffield Hatters behind another 29 points from Herbert Harrigan with Holly Winterburn posting 21 and six assists. Those teams are 7-0 against all other opponents so far.

Lions are averaging just 59 points conceded per game, while generating an astonishing 17 steals per outing as they continue to build on their formidable defensive reputation from last season, with 27 points from turnovers proving to be the difference in that key win over the title-chasing Hatters.