LIVE STREAM: 2023 WBBL Trophy Final – London Lions v Leicester Riders

The top two in this season’s WBBL meet again to decide the 2023 Betty Codona WBBL Trophy winners as London Lions take on Leicester Riders.

Both sides have 12 wins apiece in the WBBL Championship, while the Lions landed a psychological blow with a dominant triumph in Birmingham to win the Cup title in January.

Will Sunday’s encounter be any different?

Road to the Finals

The competition opened up with a first round weekend held at the Essex Sports Arena with four non-WBBL sides invited for the first time. Two-time defending champions London swept aside Brent Bulls to begin the tournament in style; winning 98-42 as Shequila Joseph and Paulina Hersler starred.

Meanwhile, Leicester was just as dominant in beating Oaklands Wolves 104-53 with Oliana Squires and Ashley Arlen combining for 45 points and five three-pointers each.

The Lions then eased past Cardiff Met Archers 55-104 on the road in the quarter-finals as Hersler top scored in a balanced attack with 20 points. The star duo of Holly Winterburn and Kiki Herbert-Harrigan returned for the semi-finals and put on a show with 26 points apiece in the 112-77 victory over Sheffield Hatters at Oaklands.

As for the Riders, they edged out Caledonia Gladiators for a hard-fought 54-44 success in the last eight as Ashley Arlen put up 17 points and eight boards before an emphatic 63-91 triumph at Newcastle Eagles in the semi-finals saw 18 points on 8-10 shooting from Kirsty Brown leading the way.

The quest for more silverware

Leicester won the Betty Codona Trophy three years running from 2017-20, while London have won the last two editions – winning both finals against Sevenoaks and Nottingham by 30+ points. Reigning MVP Holly Winterburn could become the first player to win the competition on four different occasions.

Sunday 26th March, 1pm tip – LIVESTATS

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