Coaches and Captains select Molten WBBL Team of the Year

The Molten WBBL Team of the Year – voted by WBBL head coaches and captains – includes former WNBA star Kiki Herbert-Harrigan as one of a pair of London Lions, alongside the league’s leading rebounder and two familiar WBBL campaigners.

Ashley Arlen – Leicester Riders

Returning to the WBBL for a fourth campaign, after four years away, Ashley Arlen is a former Molten WBBL Player of the Year (2016-17) and features in the Molten WBBL Team of the Year for the fourth time, which moves her second overall in the WBBL era behind only Cat Carr’s five appearances. In her first season with Leicester Riders she did a bit of everything in leading them to a third-placed finish and the finals of the WBBL Cup and WBBL Trophy, averaging 14.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, a steal and a block each game, fifth in the league for defensive rebounds and eighth in blocks. That included big performances down the stretch of 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a win over Hatters that guaranteed third place, and a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds in the Play-off quarter-final win over Essex Rebels, as well as a double-double of 22 points and 14 boards in vain in the WBBL Trophy Final.

Shannon Hatch – Cardiff Met Archers

Forward Shannon Hatch led Cardiff Met Archers to their first WBBL Play-off appearance in five years as they dramatically finished seventh in the WBBL Championship in a three-way head-to-head – their highest marks since 2015-16 – leading to her first appearance in the Molten WBBL Team of the Year in her third season with Archers. She was fourth in the WBBL in scoring (18.5 points per game), seventh in field goal percentage (48.5%) and tenth in defensive rebounds (6.0), while as the focal point of her team’s offence she scored more total points (406) and made more total field goals (176) than anyone else in the WBBL. Overall, along with her scoring she averaged 8.6 total rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.5 assists per game, scoring double-figures in every single game she played.

Kiki Herbert-Harrigan – London Lions

Former WNBA first round draft pick Kiki Herbert-Harrigan recently departed these shores for training camp with the Connecticut Sun ahead of the 2023 WNBA season, but not before leaving her mark on the WBBL. With a domestic treble already in the bag, she was MVP of the Betty Codona WBBL Trophy Final at the Emirates Arena, live on Sky Sports in March, with a record-breaking 33 points to see Lions past Leicester Riders. On the season, the 6’2″ forward was second in the WBBL in scoring (18.7 points per game), first in three-point percentage (46.6%), third in field goal percentage (52.0%), and third in free-throw percentage (80.5%), while adding five rebounds, an assist and a block per outing.

Karly Murphy – B. Braun Sheffield Hatters

American forward Karly Murphy was dominant in her first WBBL season for the fourth-placed Hatters, leading all players in weekly All-Star 5 appearances as the only person to reach double-figures with 11. She was one of just four players to average a double-double for the entire campaign, with her 18.0 points and 14.4 rebounds meaning that she was the league’s leader in boards and sixth in scoring, while also being number one in free-throw percentage at 83.9%. The 6’1″ Wisconsin native had an unbelievable 20 double-doubles in all competitions, including three games of more than 20 points and more than 20 rebounds, also adding 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Holly Winterburn – London Lions

Great Britain international guard Holly Winterburn is a former three-time Molten WBBL Young Player of the Year and makes her second appearance in the Molten WBBL Team of the Year, having previously featured in 2020-21, as a key piece in London’s dominant campaign in her second season at the club. Like her teammate, she was MVP of their other showpiece final win as she posted 16 points, nine assists and five rebounds in the WBBL Cup Final success over her former club, Leicester, live on Sky Sports from the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. Averaging 14.7 points per game, she showed her continued development as, in her sixth WBBL campaign, she shot career bests from the field (48.4%), the three-point line (35.8%) and the free-throw line (83.3%) and had a career best assists mark of 6.8 per game – she was third in the league in assists, and seventh in steals (2.2 per game).

A full record of votes can be found below:

Caledonia Coach VoteLeslie VorpahlHolly WinterburnKatsiaryna SnytsinaHarriet Ottewill-SoulsbyAzania Stewart
Caledonia Captain VoteAraion BradshawHolly WinterburnKatsiaryna SnytsinaShannon HatchKarly Murphy
Cardiff Coach VoteHolly WinterburnTea AdamsKiki Herbert-HarriganAshley ArlenKarly Murphy
Cardiff Captain VoteTea AdamsHolly WinterburnKiki Herbert-HarriganAshley ArlenKarly Murphy
Durham Coach VoteHolly WinterburnKatsiaryna SnytsinaKiki Herbert-HarriganAshley ArlenKarly Murphy
Durham Captain VoteKarly MurphyShannon HatchKiki Herbert-HarriganMcKenzie JohnstonAraion Bradshaw
Essex Coach VoteKiki Herbert-HarriganKarly MurphyShannon HatchAshley ArlenAraion Bradshaw
Essex Captain VoteHolly WinterburnOliana SquiresAraion BradshawKiki Herbert-HarriganKarly Murphy
Leicester Coach VoteLauren SaikiHolly WinterburnKiki Herbert-HarriganErin McGarrachanKarly Murphy
Leicester Captain VoteKiki Herbert-HarriganHolly WinterburnKarly MurphyShannon HatchAraion Bradshaw
London Coach VoteGeorgia GayleOliana SquiresErin McGarrachanAshley ArlenKarly Murphy
London Captain VoteShannon HatchOliana SquiresAshley ArlenElle HendershotLauren Saiki
Manchester Coach VoteKiki Herbert-HarriganHolly WinterburnAshley ArlenErin McGarrachanShannon Hatch
Manchester Captain VoteLauren SaikiHolly WinterburnKatsiaryna SnytsinaKiki Herbert-HarriganKarly Murphy
Newcastle Coach VoteOliana SquiresHolly WinterburnKiki Herbert-HarriganAshley ArlenKarly Murphy
Newcastle Captain VoteHolly WinterburnOliana SquiresKiki Herbert-HarriganErin McGarrachanKarly Murphy
Nottingham Coach VoteKiki Herbert-HarriganKarly MurphyHolly WinterburnAshley ArlenAntoinette Lewis
Nottingham Captain VoteKiki Herbert-HarriganHolly WinterburnKarly MurphyLauren SaikiAshley Arlen
Oaklands Coach VoteAraion BradshawHolly WinterburnKiki Herbert-HarriganKatsiaryna SnytsinaHarriet Ottewill-Soulsby
Oaklands Captain VoteKiki Herbert-HarriganAshley ArlenKarly MurphyErin McGarrachanHolly Winterburn
Sevenoaks Coach VoteKiki Herbert-HarriganSamantha KeltosTea AdamsGeorgia GayleHolly Winterburn
Sevenoaks Captain VoteKiki Herbert-HarriganShannon HatchKarly MurphyTea AdamsHarriet Ottewill-Soulsby
Sheffield Coach VoteKiki Herbert-HarriganTaylor MurrayAshley ArlenHannah RobbChantelle Handy
Sheffield Captain VoteHolly WinterburnKiki Herbert-HarriganAshley ArlenKatsiaryna SnytsinaTaylor Murray