There’s a very familiar feel to the WBBL All-Star Five this week, with all of these players among the top nine in overall appearances. It’s led this week by Kennedy Leonard and includes the Nottingham duo of Chelsey Shumpert and Jasmine Joyner appearing alongside each other, incredibly, for the fifth time overall and the third time in the last four weeks.
Kennedy Leonard – BA London Lions
Lions had a massive weekend, making the WBBL Trophy Final and going top of the WBBL Championship, with the GB international guard – who leads the league in assists – posting a double-double in both games to make her fifth All-Star Five appearance. On Sunday, she went for a massive 20 points and 16 assists, falling just one rebound shy of a triple-double in victory over Durham; and the day before, at Leicester in the Trophy semi-final, she had a rare non-points double-double of 15 assists and 11 rebounds.
Alison Gorrell – Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle’s recent improvement in form has meant that Gorrell – who is now the league’s leading scorer – is featuring more often in the All-Star Five starters, rather than coming off the bench, with this being her second showing. Eagles had their biggest win of the season in beating the in-form Wildcats at home, with Gorrell posting 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, proving a handful for the visitors as she was fouled 10 times and made 12-16 (75%) free-throws in the game.
DeAneglique Waithe – Essex Rebels
Waithe was largely responsible for ending Leicester Riders’ unbeaten start to the season last Friday, putting up 27 points and grabbing 15 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the campaign. That included 12 points and five rebounds in the decisive third quarter that Rebels won 32-19 to take control of the contest. The American forward is now fifth in the league overall in both scoring and rebounding.
Jasmine Joyner – Nottingham Wildcats
Nottingham’s star forward leads the WBBL in All-Star Five appearances, with this being her seventh of the season so far. In midweek, Nottingham routed Durham in a WBBL Trophy quarter-final, with Joyner shooting 8-10 (80%) from the field on her way to 18 points, adding nine rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks, getting her work done at both ends of the floor as they held their visitors to just 41 points.
Chelsey Shumpert – Nottingham Wildcats
The other half of Nottingham’s formidable duo, Shumpert gains weekly honours for the fifth time, having appeared alongside Joyner on every occasion. Against Durham, she led all scorers on 23 points, adding seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. She had nine points, two assists and two steals as Wildcats broke the game open in the second stanza.
Off the bench: Amari Carter (Oaklands Wolves), Claire Paxton (Durham Palatinates), Holly Winterburn (Leicester Riders), Mara Marchizotti (Cardiff Met Archers), Kara Elderkin (Durham Palatinates), Cassie Breen (BA London Lions), Maud Ranger (Caledonia Pride).