All eyes will be focused North of the Border tomorrow as Caledonia Pride welcome Nottingham Wildcats to the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Sport and Exercise, to tip off their second WBBL campaign.

The Edinburgh based franchise will be looking to seize on the momentum gained from an impressive debut season in the league, having retained the bulk of their home-grown roster.

That, according to Pride and Scotland Senior National Team Head Coach Bart Sengers, has the team confident ahead of their season-opener.

“We have the chance to start at a completely different level than we did last season. Keeping our core intact has always been the plan and I’m happy we’ve managed to stay the course.

“The team have grown closer over the summer, on and off the court. A busy international schedule allowed a large portion of our squad to remain together and compete for Scotland. I’ve no doubt the benefits of that will be on display come opening night,” said Sengers.

“It was a tough introduction to the league last season and we were taught a lot of lessons. We learnt a lot.

“We showed tremendous commitment, however, to turn the season around. We have a special group of players who are now starting to understand what it takes to get the best out of themselves and the team.

“I am confident that we can pick up where we left off and I can promise we won’t start the season again with back-to-back 40+ point losses,” added the play-caller.

The camaraderie in and around the Pride setup has become somewhat of a franchise hallmark, according to Scottish international Beth Mackie.

“Last year was a massive learning curve for us as a team but we’ve always had an amazing synergy. It is a privilege to work with such a close-knit and dedicated group of girls.

“Fan support has been incredible. To have had so many turning out to cheers us on, throughout our debut season, was amazing. It was thanks to our fans that we recorded our first flurry of wins last year.

“They help elevate our game and we couldn’t do it without them. I’d love to see another sell-out crowd at the weekend,” concluded Mackie.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Cardiff Met Archers welcome Team Northumbria hoping to continue their winning start to the season. Before Manchester Mystics host Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters in what looks set to be a firecracker of a contest.

Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters will be in action once again on Sunday, the visiting BA London Lions will be out to impress after a tough loss at home to Leicester Riders last weekend.

Sevenoaks Suns then round out the weekend at home, Team Northumbria the guests. The side from the North East will be hopeful of a double winning weekend, to get their season moving, having narrowly fallen to Mystics in their opening fixture.

WBBL Fixtures Saturday

Archers v Northumbria 2.30pm
Mystics v Hatters 4.00pm
Pride v Wildcats 5.00pm

WBBL Fixtures Sunday

Hatters v Lions 2.00pm
Suns v Northumbria 3.00pm

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