The final All-Star 5 of the regular season includes Ty Battle of London Lions as they were crowned champions, alongside an amazing pair of triple-doubles from McKenzie Johnston and Elle Hendershot, the latter as one of two representatives from Durham Palatinates – although that will be little consolation for Durham as they missed out on the Play-offs in a three-way head-to-head with Cardiff Met Archers and local rivals Newcastle Eagles.

Elle Hendershot – Durham Palatinates
Durham had kept their post-season hopes alive with a road win at Oaklands Wolves on Saturday, as captain Elle Hendershot played all 40 minutes and recorded a triple-double to feature in the All-Star 5 for a fourth time – one of three players in this week’s team tied for seventh place overall – and a third in the last five weeks. She put up 19 points on 7-11 (63%) shooting, with a huge 18 rebounds and 12 assists, including four points, six boards and six assists in the opening quarter to set the tone as Durham established a lead, followed by five points in a row and a momentum-changing ‘and one’ play to steady the ship late in the third after they had temporarily slipped behind.

Ty Battle – London Lions
London Lions played three games in the final week to finish off the regular season with the defence of their BBL Championship title, finishing with a big win over Durham on Sunday that results in a third All-Star 5 showing for Ty Battle, her first since week eight of the campaign. She got it done at both ends of the floor with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds – seven of which were at the offensive end – along with six steals, two blocks and two assists; with 12 points, five rebounds, three steals and a block in a fourth period that Lions won 32-11 after briefly trailing late in the third.

Antoinette Lewis – Newcastle Eagles
A key road win at Cardiff Met Archers on Saturday ultimately secured a Play-off spot for Newcastle Eagles, leading to a fifth All-Star 5 appearance for Antoinette Lewis, although first for ten weeks, meaning she is fifth overall among WBBL players this season. Another player with a two-way performance and a double-double, she finished with 20 points on 9-13 (69%) interior shooting, with 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks, including five points just before the half in the run that put Eagles ahead for good, and four points inside the final minute to hold the hosts off.

McKenzie Johnston – Leicester Riders
Leicester finished third in the WBBL Championship table with a decisive road win at fourth-placed B. Braun Sheffield Hatters on Saturday, as McKenzie Johnston posted her second triple-double of the season to make a fourth All-Star 5 appearance, among that group of players joint-seventh overall. She finished with 13 points on 6-8 (75%) inside shooting, with 11 rebounds and 11 assists, also nabbing two steals; and that included six points, three assists and two boards in the fourth quarter as Riders finished the game on a 25-12 surge to secure a crucial win.

Jess Wayne – Durham Palatinates
The last of the players to finish the season on four All-Star 5 appearances is Durham’s Jess Wayne, as the other big performer in the road win at Oaklands with a characteristic do-it-all showing. She led all scorers with 20 points, knocking down 3-7 (42%) from the three-point line, completed a double-double with 11 rebounds, and adding five steals, four assists and a block, including five fourth quarter points and an ‘and-one’ play that broke a tie inside the final five minutes to put the visitors up for good.

Off the bench: Sune Swart (Essex Rebels), Katie Nolan (Newcastle Eagles), Chantelle Handy (Caledonia Gladiators), Karly Murphy (B. Braun Sheffield Hatters), Oliana Squires (Leicester Riders), Shannon Hatch (Cardiff Met Archers), Taylor Murray (London Lions).