The B. Braun Sheffield Hatters secured their fourth trophy of the season, surviving a late scare to take victory over Caledonia Gladiators.
Sheffield Hatters 73-66 Caledonia Gladiators
The Womens’ Super League Basketball Play-Off Final was set to be a blockbuster, with the first and second seeded teams facing each other for a heavyweight clash to sign off the 2025/26 season. On top of their league title, Sheffield had the haul of individual awards, with Vanessa Ellis scooping up the Coach of the Year award, with Megan Mullings doing the ‘Player of the Year’ and ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ double. For Caledonia, the Final was a fond farewell to Robyn Lewis, following the announcement of her retirement in the build-up to Finals day.
The sides shared the spoils in the regular season, ultimately finishing with 15-3 records each and only separated by points difference. For Sheffield a silverware sweep was on the line, looking to add the Play-Off Trophy to their League and Betty Codona Trophy wins. Scottish eyes were set on spoiling the party at the O2 Arena, looking to make history as the first Scottish Women’s Basketball team to win a top-flight Play-Off title.
Antoinette Lewis and Tierra Hodges traded buckets to set their respective sides in motion. The Hatters had the better of the early chances, with fast-breaks helping them establish an early 11-2 lead.
The Glads had to battle to get into the game, surviving four-minute scoring drought before quick firing five points to force a Sheffield timeout. The contest opened up in the last four minutes of the first period. Caledonia brought themselves within a score with consecutive and-one plays, before the Hatters restored a seven-point lead.
A misplaced inbound pass saw Grace Graham run it home for a wide open lay-up, seeing Sheffield hold a 23-17 lead after one.
Quarter two maintained the fast pace, but all in favour of the league champions. The inside game helped the Hatter lead grow to double-figures with Lewis dominating around the low block.
The direct approach in the Yorkshire side’s transition game proved deadly, pushing the margin out to 15. The Scottish side’s scoring was sporadic, though Tess Amundsen’s first-half-shooting was efficient.
Lockdown Sheffield defence prevented any opportunity of a final-second make from Caledonia, smothering the ball to seal a 42-28 first half.
Out of the break, the game became scrappier. Only four points hit the scoreboard in the opening three minutes of the second half, before the Hatters put their foot to the floor once more.
Megan Mullings racked up her points tally, surpassing the 10-point mark, combining well with Cheyenne Stubbs. The Hatters stayed hot and pushed their lead above 20, but a late flourish from Caledonia ensured they scored double-digits in the quarter. Into the final stanza, Sheffield enjoyed a 17-point cushion (57-40).
The gap quickly became 20 thanks to Mullings, but Anastasia Warren and Amundsen put together a seven-point run to eat into the deficit.
Momentum completely swung in the Gladiators’ favour as Amundsen took over. She caught fire in a 20-7 Caledonia run to evaporate the deficit, now only facing a four-point game. Jess Eadsforth-Yates drilled Sheffield’s first three of the game to break the cold snap, before Warren cashed in to respond.
A breathless final two minutes saw Sheffield hold off a valiant Gladiator comeback, securing the Super League Basketball quadruple with a 73-66 victory.
Player of the Game: Megan Mullings