By Jamie Thomas
Suiting up for a maiden WBBL Trophy Final outing this Sunday, Nottingham Wildcats’ star guard Chelsey Shumpert is looking forward to her first experience of a major final for Nottingham as she and her teammates get ready to square off against the red-hot London Lions.
The Wildcats will be contesting their first WBBL Trophy Final since 2015 and the Lions’ first since 2016 – which, coincidently, is their only other major final appearance in the WBBL era – and Shumpert discussed her emotions regarding being a part of Sunday’s showpiece fixture.
“This will be my first final for the club in my third season here, so that alone means a lot to me and I’m really excited. I know being at this stage means a lot to the club too, who haven’t been at this stage of this competition since 2015, so it’s exciting for everybody and for our community at Nottingham too to be a part of this.
“I’m just going to enjoy the moment, I’m not usually the type of person to think too much about the outcome or the results, but I do make sure I’m ready to do my best and prepare my mind and body in the right way and I believe the results will follow.
“It would be amazing to have that trophy in our hands at the end of it all and embrace the moment, remembering everything I’ve been through and practiced with girls I’ve been with for three years now, and it would be one of the best moments of my life for sure.”
“They’re a team that stays tough for all four quarters.”
Having only been beaten on the court twice this season, both at the hands of the Sevenoaks Suns – their only other loss coming as the result of a forfeit due to Covid-19 protocols – the Lions have roared their way to the top of the WBBL standings with a revamped roster and an 8-2 record.
Shumpert has seen the Lions up close already this season as her Wildcats faced Mark Clark’s side in February and she admitted she admired aspects of London’s game whilst zeroing in on what the key areas of focus would be for Nottingham on Sunday to stifle their opponents.
“I like how they play together, and I think everybody can see their chemistry by the way they move the ball and communicate on the court – teams like that are hard to beat, and so it has proven this year, so we have to match their intensity and energy and make sure we’re prepared right.
“Their roster changes have certainly helped take them to this level they’re at now, and their playmakers and shooters are great players, but we’ve got experience against them this year and we’ll prepare our defence based on that game and see where it takes us.
“They’re a team that stays tough for all four quarters – they don’t drop their intensity after a quarter or a half, they’re at the same level all the way through the game and play very hard throughout, so we’ve got to match that and we have to be able to slow them down in transition.”
“I hope our fans are ready for a show on Sunday.”
Known for her scoring and toughness on the court, Shumpert’s resilience is perhaps an even greater quality that is demonstrated by her battling spirit to overcome big injuries in her young career, having had three knee surgeries already by the age of just 25.
You wouldn’t know it if you watched the Wildcats guard on the court, though, as she’s averaged over 20 points, five rebounds and six assists per game in the WBBL Championship this season, and even better numbers in the WBBL Trophy.
“I’ve been pleased with my performance. Coming back from my injury, it is difficult to know how your body is going to react and hold up to the challenge or if it is going to be 100% all season, but I’ve worked hard to take care of my body right and I’m pleased with where I’m at, I can’t wait to see what lays ahead for me and I’m ready for Sunday.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if people had us as the underdogs going into this game, but I like that – I like having a chip on my shoulder because we just have nothing to lose. I don’t think we’re the underdogs, but whatever we are we’re going to go out there to compete at a high level.
“I hope our fans are ready for a show on Sunday. Our team can bring a lot of entertainment and I know the London Lions will as well. It is sure to be a competitive game and I hope the fans of both teams enjoy some showtime.”
“It would have a big impact on our community.”
A lot can change in basketball in the blink of an eye, as the incredible rise of London Lions in the WBBL has shown this season for example, and Shumpert feels the quality of the women’s game in the UK is at an all-time high during her three-year tenure in Nottingham, adding why a win on Sunday would be extra special for this team.
“The standard in the WBBL is the highest it has been in my time here and the league has really grown since my first year. There are so many great, smart players and strong rosters across the league, so we know we’re in for a tough challenge every week and I really enjoy that competition.
“A win on Sunday would be huge for us. We’ve had a lot of injuries to contend with this season, so that has made it challenging, and we have been through a lot together, but now we’ve got everybody back we’re going to come together and go for the win on Sunday, which would mean the world to our team, our fans, and it’d have a big impact on our community.”