Friday Feeling

Four teams enter the weekend boasting a perfect Championship record but for at least one club their perfect start will come to an end on Saturday afternoon.

Leicester Community Sports Arena will host the weekend’s opening proceedings as Leicester Riders welcome Caledonia Pride, both teams full of confidence having won their only contest of the season.

This time last year there was a distinctly different feeling surrounding the matchup, Riders easing past the then league newcomers by 50 points. But after a strong finish to last season and a statement win to open the 2017-18 campaign, no one is underestimating the danger posed by Caledonia Pride.

“It’s great to see the WBBL becoming more competitive,” declared Riders guard Dee Hayward.

“There are no easy games in this league. A consistent, professional mindset is always required.

“Despite everything we achieved last year, we lacked experience in the big moments. We learnt a lot, however, and by retaining a large portion of the roster we’re definitely in a stronger position this time around.

“We already know each other’s tendencies and how to play together: it feels like we’ve picked up where we left off last season!

 

“Yet, we know moving forward we have to continue to work hard, remain together and stick to the principles that have worked for us. We can’t take anything for granted,” concluded the Scottish international.

Leicester forward Mollie Campbell is certainly not relying on previous results as an accurate predictor of future success.

“Our first performance of the season was definitely a solid start but we still have a few things that need to be ironed out,” said Campbell.

“The league is a lot stronger this year and our mindset must remain the same for every game, regardless of who we face. We have to play hard and to the best of our abilities week in, week out. If not, we can’t expect to take away a positive result.”

The bulk of the weekend’s fixtures will come tomorrow. Leicester Riders and Caledonia Pride tip off the action, before Sevenoaks Suns travel to Oaklands Wolves hoping to keep their own unbeaten streak alive.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Manchester Mystics will look to return to winning ways against Durham Palantinates as the league newcomers visit the National Basketball Performance Centre.

Finally, Cardiff Met Archers and Nottingham Wildcats will end the day’s basketball in Cardiff at Archers Arena. Both teams will be keen to put in an eye-catching performance having tasted defeat in their last outing.

Sunday sees a change of pace with just one fixture being played. Team Northumbria will host Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters looking to end the road team’s unbeaten run, having themselves suffered overtime heartbreak at the hands of Sevenoaks last weekend.

WBBL Fixtures Saturday 
Leicester Riders v Caledonia Pride 1:30pm
Wolves v Suns 3:45pm
Mystics v Palatinates 4:00pm
Archers v Wildcats 4:30pm

WBBL Fixtures Sunday 
Northumbria v Hatters 4:00pm

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