The Wrap

Caledonia Pride – league newcomers just 12 months ago – signalled their intentions for their second season with a memorable 78-64 victory over Nottingham Wildcats – who drop to a surprising 0-2 start.

Rosanna Reynolds starred with 15 points, 17 rebounds and four assists, but it was a great team effort to pull off the victory in front of an enthralled sellout crowd.

Sarah Thomson was delighted with her side’s victory and is looking forward to building upon the opening success.

“It’s really exiting to get off to such a good start and even more exciting to see how much more we will develop as a team as the season goes on,” she declared.

“The biggest thing I took away from yesterday’s game was the huge improvement we have made in a year.

“If you look back to our first game of the season last year against [Leicester] Riders, we couldn’t really compete, but we have worked so hard and we have just won against the WBBL league champs.

“Everyone puts so much effort in which really makes the difference and the whole team buys into our culture and what Bart [Sengers] is teaching us.

“The crowd and the ‘team behind the team’ do an amazing job supporting us and making it the best game day experience for us players and coaches.”

Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters are the early leaders after making a 3-0 start with two more wins this weekend.

They eased to an 84-62 home win over BA London Lions to follow up an impressive 71-80 success away at Manchester Mystics with 21 points and 12 rebounds from Gianna Woods.

Sevenoaks Suns recorded their second, but needed some clutch shooting and an extra period to overcome Team Northumbria for an 85-79 triumph, led by Cat Carr’s 21 points.

Alison Gorrell had a 30-point haul in vain for her side, who had defeated Cardiff Met Archers 45-55 the previous day for their first win.