WNBL1 & WNBL National Cup preview: 14/15 October - live streams, stats and more

D1W action is light on the ground this weekend - but with good reason as the WNBL National Cup roars back into life.

Just one top-flight game makes the cut as Anglia Ruskin head to Loughborough tomorrow, but Sunday is a busy one as the second round of the Cup comes to the fore.

Eleven of the 12 D1W teams are in the draw as part of 15 ties in total, and 30 teams will be fighting hard to continue their journey towards January's final in Manchester.

We take a look at all the weekend's action below, with links to live stats and live streams at the bottom of the page.

Loughborough Riders (1-1) vs Anglia Ruskin University (2-0)

This weekend's lone D1W fixture is an exciting one as Loughborough Riders entertain currently unbeaten Anglia Ruskin University.

Loughborough started the season with a statement win against last season's league runners-up Thames Valley, but came unstuck against Reading last time out, going down 81-53.

Getting back to winning ways will be important for the Riders as they look to build on last year's 10-12 record, especially as they face back-to-back games against D1W powerhouse CoLA before the month is out.

Erin Caldwell (14.5PPG) leads the team's scoring charts in the early going, whilst Emma Dunsire (9.0PPG, 8.5RPG) has also started brightly.

Both will surely be key to success this weekend, as should Sasha Lecuyer, who made the opening FocusHoops Team of the Week for this season.

ARU have collected wins against Bristol and Solent to start their season 2-0, with the 2018/19 playoff winners looking for a return to former glory this campaign.

Their success to date has been built on a solid defensive base, with ARU currently leading the league with a paltry 48.5PPG allowed.

Tereza Zatkova was a standout in Ruskin's opening day win, dropping 17 points, but she didn't feature against Solent last time out and her availability will be one to watch.

Rian Rawlings (14.0PPG, 9.0RPG) is likely to feature heavily however, with the ARU captain top scoring last weekend

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Elsewhere this weekend

The WNBL National Cup is on the agenda all of a raft of exciting ties, bar two, taking place on Sunday.

There's an all-D1W clash as Reading Rockets host Team Solent Kestrels on Friday night, with the Rockets looking to go one better than last season when they were beaten finalists.

University of East Anglia are the latest side with the unenviable task of facing Harriet Welham and Endeavour Ipswich Basketball, whilst Anglia Ruskin are at home to Hemel Storm.

Barking Abbey have a local derby with East London Phoenix, CoLA Southwark Pride welcome London Thunder on Saturday night, and Brent Bulls play Oaklands Wolves II.

Cardiff City have a drive along the M4 as they face D1 side Bristol Academy Flyers, and Loughborough Riders take on 2021/22 winners Stockport Lapwings, who are set to be without the influential Jade Bow Butters as she sets her sights on career goals elsewhere.

Both of the newly-promoted D1 sides are also at home, with City of Birmingham Rockets going up against Derby Trailblazers, whilst Manchester Mystics will get a visit from local rivals Liverpool.

That leaves five games featuring all-D2 teams, the pick of which could well be Worcester Wolves against Cardiff Met Archers II, with both teams playing in D1W as recently as last season.

Current holders Thames Valley are the only D1W side without a fixture as they have a bye to the next round, while the veterans of Sheffield Hatters II are already into the next round, swiping aside neighbours Sheffield Elite Basketball Academy 133-39 earlier in the week.

This weekend's fixtures:

WNBL1

Saturday 14 october

1pm - Loughborough Riders vs Anglia Ruskin University - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

WNBL National Cup

Sunday 15 October, unless stated

*Tuesday 10 October: Sheffield Hatters II 133-39 Sheffield Elite Basketball Academy

*Friday 13 October, 8.15pm: Reading Rockets vs Team Solent Kestrels

*Saturday 14 October, 7.30pm: CoLA Southwark Pride vs London Thunder

9am: Cobham Cobras vs Bracknell Cobras

1pm: Loughborough Riders vs Stockport Lapwings LIVE STREAM

1.30pm: Endeavour Ipswich Basketball vs University of East Anglia

2pm: Barking Abbey vs East London Phoenix

2pm: Nottingham Wildcats II vs Bromsgrove Bears

3pm: Bristol Academy Flyers vs Cardiff City

3pm: Worcester Wolves vs Cardiff Met Archers II

4pm: Anglia Ruskin University vs Hemel Storm

4pm: Brent Bulls vs Oaklands Wolves II

5pm: City of Birmingham Rockets vs Derby Trailblazers LIVE STREAM

5.30pm: Manchester Mystics vs Liverpool

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Main image credit - Luke Simcock