Women’s National Basketball League champions Endeavour Ipswich BC wanted to showcase their program in the Super League Basketball Betty Codona Trophy.
They did that – and more.
Ipswich became only the second domestic club since the 2021/22 season to beat the London Lions on Saturday, in the Betty Codona Trophy, joining the Caledonia Gladiators in that very select group. In the process, they snapped London’s 48-game winning streak.
Before that, London boasted a 52-game unbeaten run, bringing their record since the 2021/22 season to a still incredible 100-2 in domestic competition after the weekend.
Nick Drane, who has been part of the club since 2002 and has won 16 national titles as head coach, was keen to show the wider British basketball community how a team from outside the SLB can be operated.
“For us, as a club it was an enormous opportunity to showcase that we can operate on a professional level, which is something we take great pride in, week in and week out with all of our clubs,” Drane said.
“We also wanted to represent the WNBL, which we also take great pride in. We were able to show how Ipswich is able to punch above its weight in terms of how small our town is. Ipswich only has a population of roughly 150,000 people, and we compete with the best programs in the country.
“So, being in a position to play the London Lions was big for us. Obviously, pulling off a win was extraordinary, and we’re very proud of it.”
The win was made sweeter for Ipswich because the girls performed exceptionally against a team that not only secured all the titles on offer last season both domestically and in Europe but also has that quality, regardless of being short-handed on Saturday and with a drastically different team.
Drane and his team enjoyed the win with several VIP guests in attendance, including the Mayor of Ipswich Elango Elavalakan.
“Obviously, with the Lions name and brand coming to our small town, it gave us a chance to bring guests and for them to see what we can do and how we operate as a program.
“We certainly showcased to them and everyone else just what we can do, and I am very proud to be part of this incredible organisation.”
Ipswich now leaves the London Lions game in the archives as they look ahead to facing Essex Rebels on Saturday in a game that has some significance to it.
Drane’s side was playing in the Women’s National League, Division 2, in 2018 when they stunned the Rebels – then known as the Essex Blades, who were in Division 1 – in the Women’s National Cup final, a tournament run by Basketball England.
That was then, this is now. Drane isn’t thinking about history at all.
“Essex are a great side with a vast array of talent and we will head into that game following a double-header from this week. We played Lions, and we played the day after against Barking Abbey to start our WNBL season,” revealed Drane.
“So we are coming into the game with some injuries, but we will be ready for the challenge.”