LIVE STREAM: CoLA vs Copleston – WEABL Final (2pm)

By Sam Neter on March 27, 2024

Watch live from 2pm as two of the most successful programmes in the women’s game clash in this year’s WEABL Final, with Copleston High School facing City of London Academy – Southwark in Manchester.

The Suffolk outfit got the better of their rivals in both games during the regular season to finish a perfect 10-0.

Their post-season run has been a straightforward one, knocking off a pair of South Conference rivals in the form of JMA Reading Rockets 78-38 then Oaklands Wolves 104-45.

CoLA entered the season looking to extend their lead for the most WEABL titles with four currently to their name, two ahead of the next closest side Barking Abbey.

The Londoners went 7-3 across a solid campaign before cruising through the post-season with an 89-21 W against Nottingham Academy Wildcats and a 64-44 road win against North #1 seeds Charnwood College Riders.

Given their dominance across the regular season, it’s no surprise to see both Copleston and CoLA fill the regular season awards.

Copleston guard Liv Forster is this year’s MVP after contributing 15.0PPG along with 6.1APG, with Forster, Christabel Osarobo and Yazmin Edwards all making the Conference’s All-1st team alongside CoLA’s Felicia Jacobs and Glory Kabia.

Violet Stutz and Shay Oyewole (CoLA) and Louisa Gibbins (Copleston) both earned All-Second team nods, with Osarobo (Defensive Player of the Year) and Edwards (Most Improved Player) and CoLA’s Adaora Dioramma (U17 Player of the Year) earning further honours.

Nick Drane has collected Coach of the Year recognition for the part he’s played in steering Copleston’s rise, with his opposite number in this year’s final the most decorated man in that category with six awards throughout the WEABL’s history.

Across this match-up there is talent in abundance, both on and off the court. Undoubtedly the top two sides in this year’s competition, both Copleston and CoLA are sure to provide a fitting final chapter to their rivalry in 2023/24.

The two teams know each other incredibly well due to their battles in both the WEABL and the WNBL, playing out a number of memorable contests in recent years, including at Manchester’s National Basketball Performance Centre.

Copleston High School head coach Drane said: “It’s great to be competing in the Academy League finals. We know that in order to win this competition, at some stage you have to face CoLA in the playoffs, a programme who have dominated this competition for years.

“Our girls have been fantastic all season and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Copleston’s Edwards said: “It’s been a great season, but we’ve known all along that it was likely to come down to us and CoLA. It’s always a great match up, and we are excited for the challenge.”

City of London Academy – Southwark head coach Gibbons: “It’s a great honour to make it to another WEABL Final, it’s been a rollercoaster ride of a season to try to defend the title.

“We accept the underdog role and we are embracing it, it’s nice for the pressure to be elsewhere this year.”

CoLA’s Stutz: “We can’t wait to play in the Final. For many of the girls it’s their first time and the senior players on the team want to give it our all to get a title for the entire group.”

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