FocusHoops WNBL1 Team of the Week (8 March 2025)

A full slate of late-season D1W action provided more than a few worthy selections for this week's honours.

FocusHoops' Darren Paul, a writer, commentator, podcaster and more, looked across the five games for his picks, with Ipswich and CoLA both winning at the top of the standings.

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!     

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How it works   

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: 

  • Efficiency   
  • Stats   
  • Team and opposition strength   
  • Periods of influence in the game  
  • Being on a winning team (exceptional performances from players on losing teams will be considered for TOTW) 

The FocusHoops Team of the Week 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK 

Izabelle Booth – Anglia Ruskin University, forward

19PTS/11Reb/5AST/3stl/31EFF 

Booth delivered a dominant two-way performance for Anglia Ruskin University, showcasing her versatility on both ends of the floor.

Pulling down nine defensive rebounds on her way to a 19-11 double-double, she led Ruskin in scoring with 19 points, going 5/10 from beyond the arc and a perfect at the stripe (2/2).

Booth dished out five dimes and took away a team-high three steals in a fine outing for Ruskin as they improve to a 13-7 record, looking likely to clinch a top-four berth with the regular season nearing a close.

Hannah Gray – Endeavour Ipswich Basketball, guard 

14PTS/9reb/7AST/5stl/29EFF 

Gray put in a commanding all-around performance for Ipswich this weekend. She came close to a triple-double while helping the Suffolk outfit to an important victory that keeps her side in top spot.

The versatile guard showcased her playmaking ability with seven assists, also making her presence felt on the glass with nine rebounds. Gray finished with 14 points from 50% shooting, draining 3/6 from before the arc and making two of four chances from two-point land.

The young guard was a menace on defence, finishing the contest with a team-high five steals in a complete performance.

Harriet Welham – Endeavour Ipswich Basketball, guard 

26PTS/7Reb/4AST/3stl/27EFF 

Welham once again proved why she is one of Ipswich’s key offensive weapons, delivering a stellar 26-point performance to help her side stay top of the WNBL.

She led her side in scoring with 26 points on 52% shooting, finishing an impressive 9-14 from inside the arc and going 2/2 from the stripe.

Welham’s contribution wasn’t limited to scoring as she pulled down seven rebounds and dished out four assists. She also swiped three steals as the Ipswich skipper put the finishing touches on a big outing.

Ipswich's Harriet Welham (Richard Leach)

Nina Wallace – Worcester Wolves, guard

12PTS/9Reb/5AST/2STL/23EFF 

Worcester Wolves remain in the playoff picture thanks in part to a fantastic performance by Wallace, who made her presence felt across multiple areas of the 78-60 win against Bristol.

Scoring 12 points while coming just one rebound shy of a double-double, Wallace was instrumental in the victory. Her points came off 55% shooting, including two three-pointers, and she also contributed five assists while recording two steals.

It was an impressive performance for the Worcester guard, who maintained possession without committing a single turnover in a vital victory.

Chandera Jones-Aryeh – CoLA Southwark Pride, guard

14PTS/7Reb/3AST/3stl/20EFF 

Jones-Aryeh led the way for CoLA as they remain in touching distance of Ipswich with a game in hand.

She finished with a team-high 14 points from an exceptional 75% shooting, with all her shots coming from inside the arc plus two makes at the stripe.

The 25-year-old also made her presence felt on the glass, pulling down seven rebounds while dishing out three assists and taking back three steals in another all-around outing for one of CoLA’s key performers.

Team performance 

ipswich dominate on the road to stay clear at the top

Ipswich remain at the head of the WNBL standings as we close in on the end of the season, thanks to a 101-60 road victory over Cobham Cobras.

Led in scoring by Harriet Welham (26), all five starters bagged double-digit scoring, as did Holly Ensoll off the bench with 12 points and eight rebounds in an impressive 17 minutes of work.

Hannah Gray led Ipswich on the glass and in the rebounding department with a near triple-double outing of 14-9-7, as Ipswich shot the lights out, hitting 50% from the floor as a team, an impressive 43% for beyond the arc.

Cobham were led by Katie Richards, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Worcester stay in playoff picture with road win

Bristol is a tough place to go and get a result, but Worcester Wolves managed to do just that this weekend with a 78-68 victory over the Flyers.

Carolina Marques led the way in scoring with 24 points and was joined in double-figures by Nina Wallace (12) and Kacey Cox (11). Wallace led on the glass with nine boards and in the dimes department with five.

Worcester’s superior finishing was the difference between the two sides as the Midlands outfit hit 41% from the field, including 13-30 from beyond the arc, compared to six makes from Bristol and just 34% shooting overall.

The hosts were led in scoring by Samantha Roscoe on 16 points.

Honourable mentions 

Megan Verbeeten (BAR) - 17P/88R/2A/2B/22EFF

Tia Freeman (ARU) - 17P/12R/6A/2S/25EFF

Louisa Gibbins (IPS) - 14P/8R/4A/2S/23EFF

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Main image credit - Flo Alalade