Oaklands Wolves have assembled an exciting blend of experience, international pedigree and emerging homegrown talent ahead of the 2026/27 Super League Basketball season, with a host of familiar faces returning alongside a number of impressive new additions.

The Wolves have combined established leaders with an exciting group of overseas recruits, while once again placing the Oaklands Academy pathway at the heart of their ambitions for the new campaign.

Leading the returning contingent is Great Britain international and club captain Shanice Beckford-Norton, who will once again lead the Wolves after another impressive 2025/26 campaign.

Beckford-Norton averaged 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season, continuing to provide the leadership, defensive intensity and experience that have become hallmarks of her game.

“I’m excited to be returning to Oaklands for another season,” said Beckford-Norton. “We have built something special here, and I’m looking forward to continuing that journey with the club, my teammates and our supporters. We’re hungry to keep improving and competing for trophies, and I can’t wait to get back on court.”

She will be joined by fellow returning players Beth Sarson, Lavinia Da Silva and Amy West, all of whom bring significant experience to the Wolves roster.

Sarson returns to Oaklands after making more than 90 appearances for the club since re-joining in 2021. The experienced guard has averaged 12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during that time and will provide another proven presence in the backcourt.

“I’m incredibly excited to be back at Oaklands,” said Sarson. “This club has always felt like home to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to wear the Wolves jersey again.”

Portuguese international Da Silva will enter her third consecutive season in St Albans after another productive campaign in 2025/26, averaging 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

The 6’2″ forward brings more than a decade of international experience with Portugal and recently represented her country at the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025 Finals. Her career has also taken her across Portugal, Great Britain, Italy, Iceland, Luxembourg and Switzerland, as well as into EuroCup Women competition.

“I’m excited to continue my journey with Oaklands Wolves,” said Da Silva. “This club feels like home, and I’m looking forward to helping the team compete for success while continuing to support the development of the younger players within the programme.”

West will provide further size and experience in the frontcourt, with the 6’4″ British/New Zealander returning to the Wolves after previously representing the club.

Known for her physicality, rebounding and presence in the paint, West will also play an important role in supporting the younger players progressing through the Oaklands pathway.

“We’re delighted to welcome Amy back to Oaklands,” said Head Coach Lee Ryan. “At 6’4″, she gives us a strong presence at the centre position and brings valuable experience to our group.”

The Wolves have also added considerable international experience to their roster, including the return of Brazilian point guard Maria Albiero.

Albiero returns to St Albans following her previous spell with Oaklands during the 2024/25 season, when she averaged 6.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game in SLB competition.

A Brazilian national team player, Albiero has represented her country at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament and South American Championships and will bring playmaking, composure and leadership to the Wolves backcourt.

“I’m excited to be back with the Wolves,” said Albiero. “I have unfinished business from my previous time in St Albans and I’m looking forward to rejoining the club, reconnecting with the fans and helping the team achieve its goals this season.”

Joining the experienced international core are two new overseas additions in Elise Williams and Summah Evans.

American guard Williams arrives following a five-year career at Wake Forest University, where she accumulated 1,348 points, 503 rebounds, 391 assists and 219 steals across 124 appearances.

The Raleigh, North Carolina native finished her collegiate career among Wake Forest’s all-time leaders in scoring, assists, steals and three-point shooting, averaging 10.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

A versatile two-way guard, Williams brings the ability to score, create for teammates and defend multiple perimeter positions.

“She’s a player we’ve tracked closely because of the impact she makes in every aspect of the game,” said Ryan. “She can score, facilitate, defend, push the pace and create opportunities for others. Her leadership experience and competitive character will be invaluable for our group.”

Australian sharpshooter Summah Evans will provide another significant scoring threat from the perimeter.

The Cairns native arrives following an outstanding 2026 campaign with the Cairns Dolphins, where she averaged 18.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 16 appearances, shooting an impressive 45.8% from three-point range and 88.9% from the free-throw line.

Evans has also competed collegiately in the United States and professionally in Germany, where she averaged 13.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game for Eisvogel USC Freiburg.

“Summah is a player we’ve admired for a long time,” said Ryan. “Her shooting ability is elite, but what really stands out is her competitiveness and versatility. She has succeeded at every level of the game and we’re excited to welcome her to Oaklands.”

The Wolves have also strengthened their domestic options with Australian-British forward Emma Donnelly, who joins following a strong 2025 season with Northern Suburbs Bears in Australia’s NBL1 East.

The 6’1″ forward averaged 12.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 made three-pointers per game, bringing perimeter shooting and versatility to the Oaklands frontcourt.

“Emma gives us size, versatility and a genuine ability to impact the game in multiple ways,” said Ryan. “Her shooting ability is a real strength and her potential is off the charts. We are excited to work with her and see her game translate to the SLB.”

Perhaps most importantly, the Wolves will once again place their academy pathway at the centre of the programme, with Holly Welch, Rihanna Redondo-Miller, Olivia ‘Molly’ Barton and Sophie Heron all forming part of the academy contingent.

Welch returns following her breakthrough SLB campaign last season. The 6’2″ Scottish forward averaged 14.7 points and 8.2 rebounds in the Women’s Elite Academy Basketball League, earning a Hoopsfix All-Star selection in the process.

She will be joined by Redondo-Miller and Barton, who both continue their progression through the Oaklands programme, while Scottish guard Heron begins her Oaklands journey after coming through the Caledonia Blues development programme. Heron has also been recognised as part of the Great Britain U16 long squad.

The continued integration of academy players alongside established SLB and international talent remains central to Oaklands’ philosophy.

“At Oaklands we value the importance of giving young players the chance to showcase themselves in the SLB,” said Ryan. “When the best youth players, whether that’s British or otherwise, get the exposure to the levels in the SLB it serves as a great foundation for long careers ahead in our sport.

“The development opportunities of playing in this environment and getting to train and learn from professional athletes daily is second to none. We have four great academy players starting the year with us, but will be monitoring the rest of the academy to identify more additions throughout the season.”

With established leaders, returning internationals, exciting overseas recruits and the next generation of Oaklands talent all coming together, the Wolves head into the 2026/27 campaign with a roster built around experience, versatility and a clear pathway for the future.