There’s a familiar feel to the latest WBBL All-Star 5 with a combined 21 appearances this season from this week’s selections, who all represent clubs in the top five after important WBBL Championship wins at the weekend, led by former WNBA star Kiki Herbert Harrigan.
Kiki Herbert Harrigan – London Lions
Following one of the most amazing performances of the season so far in London’s comprehensive win over Cardiff Met Archers at the Copper Box Arena on Sunday, Kiki Herbert Harrigan makes her third All-Star 5 appearance of the campaign. She poured in 29 points in just 18 minutes, shooting 9-12 (75%) from the field, 4-5 (80%) from three and 7-8 (87%) at the free-throw line, with seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, including an unstoppable 17 points in a 34-8 start in the first six minutes of the game.
Araion Bradshaw – Sevenoaks Suns
Suns are up to third in the WBBL Championship after an eighth straight league win, beating Manchester Met Mystics at home on Saturday, as Araion Bradshaw remains second in overall All-Star 5 appearances this season with this being her sixth, and fourth in the last six weeks during that run of form. She did a bit of everything with 24 points, nine assists, six rebounds and five steals, including five points in a 10-0 start to the game as Suns led from tip-to-buzzer, and a further three assists in a 31-point first quarter.
Ashley Arlen – Leicester Riders
Third in overall All-Star 5 appearances, Leicester forward Ashley Arlen features for the fifth time this season and second week in a row, with Riders joint-top of the WBBL Championship following a road win at Cardiff Met Archers on Saturday. She posted a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds, with five assists and three steals, including consecutive scores to cap a 10-4 tear that took them from behind to in front for good in the first quarter, and five points early in the second as Riders made it a double-figure lead.
Georgia Gayle – Sheffield Hatters
Fifth-placed Sheffield Hatters bounced back from consecutive league defeats with a road win at Oaklands Wolves on Saturday, leading to Great Britain international Georgia Gayle making her third All-Star 5 showing of the season so far. She was eyeing up a triple-double as she hit 3-6 (50%) from three-point range and a perfect 8-8 free-throws en route to 19 points, with nine assists and seven rebounds, including 10 first quarter points and back-to-back triples to overturn an early deficit and put Hatters ahead for good.
Holly Winterburn – London Lions
London are joint-top of the WBBL Championship, with Leicester, and bounced back from their first defeat in over 50 games with the emphatic win over Cardiff, as Great Britain international guard Holly Winterburn makes her fourth All-Star 5 appearance in the last eight weeks. Like her teammate, it was a sensational performance as she scored 24 points in just 18 minutes, shooting 9-11 (81%) from the field and handing out eight assists, including six points and five assists in a 29-5 start that settled the game in the opening five minutes.
Off the bench: Samantha Keltos (Manchester Met Mystics), Karly Murphy (Sheffield Hatters), Abbie Wolf (Caledonia Gladiators), Shannon Hatch (Cardiff Met Archers), Hannah Robb (Leicester Riders), Renee Busch (Sevenoaks Suns), Erin McGarrachan (Caledonia Gladiators).