Paul, a writer, commentator, podcaster and more, had five games to pore over across three days, as Loughborough Riders separated themselves from the pack to become the league's only undefeated team.
Have your say on this week's choices and give a shout-out to the players you think deserve one using the hashtag #NBL2425. Don't forget to tag us!
Twitter: @NBLengland / @FocusHoops
Facebook: @NBLengland / @FocusHoops
Instagram: @nblengland / @focushoops
Darren will pick a Player of the Week and four other selections to round out his Team of the Week, paying attention to the following criteria:
The FocusHoops Team of the Week 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
New Anglia Ruskin University signing Tia Freeman led her side on the road as they handed Manchester their first loss of the season.
Freeman scored a 27 points, 11 rebounds double-double on 53% shooting, whilst hitting half her threes and sinking 8-11 from the stripe. With six points and an assist in the overtime period, Freeman stepped up in the big moments for her new squad.
Ipswich put on a show on the road in Reading, and Harriet Welham took the starring role. She finished with a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds, draining 50% of her shots and going 7-10 from the stripe. Welham rebounded well on both ends, found her teammates with five assists and ended with two steals in a dominant showing.
Madeline Wormald was a top performer for Ipswich as they took down Reading, finishing with 15 points, good for second highest in the contest. Wormald did a lot of everything for Ipswich, pulling down nine rebounds, dishing seven assists and swiping seven steals in a very efficient performance.
Cobham Cobras continued their impressive start to life in WNBL D1 with a win over Bristol, spearheaded by an excellent performance from Sophie Khalaf.
Khlaf stepped off the bench for a 17-12 double-double on 58% shooting, with five offensive and seven defensive rebounds. Khalaf dominated the paint, with all her scoring coming inside and from the stripe, where she went 3-4 in an excellent outing.
CoLA Southwark Pride took a very narrow win away from their home performance against TVC, thanks in part to Chandera Jones-Aryeh, who finished with a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double to go with six assists and five steals.
Jones-Aryeh was a problem for TVC as she drew a game-high eight fouls and went 4-6 from the stripe in an important victory for the Pride.
Tia Freeman’s player of the week performance helped Anglia Ruskin take down the previously undefeated Manchester Mystics. Ruskin was led in scoring by Freeman, who bagged 27 points, and Izabelle Booth, who was impressed with a 21-11 double-double and also dished seven dimes.
Elizabeth Neri came off the bench for ARU to contribute nine rebounds (three offensive) in a battling display. Manchester were led in scoring by Irene Oboavwoduo, Elizandra Costa and Kizzy Spence, whose triple at the death sent the game into OT.
Ipswich has been known to put in high-scoring performances, and this weekend, they topped a century for the first time in the 2024-25 season, handing Reading a 50-piece.
Harriet Welham was the round’s leading scorer with 28 points in the contest, as Madeline Wormald (15), Hannah Gray (12), Cerys Leach (12) and Louisa Gibbins (11) all hit double-digits in scoring.
Welham and Gibbins both finished with double-doubles, as Gibbins took six boards at both ends of the floor to finish with 12, continuing her excellent form.
Reading were led in scoring by Alicia Guerra and Alannah Malone, who both bagged 14 points.
Yassin Belle-Mbaye (TVC) 19P/11R/20EFF
Louisa Gibbins (IPS) 11P/12R/6A/21EFF
Marlee Ball (BRI) 19P/14R/2A/22EFF
.
Main image credit - GB Basketball
Team of the Week photo credits - Essex Rebels (Freeman), Richard Leach (Welham, Wormald), Cobham Cobras (Khalaf) , CoLA Southwark Pride (Jones-Aryeh)
