The London Lions women’s team have completed a domestic clean sweep following their triumph in the WBBL Play-Off finals at The O2 on Sunday 15 May. The final was played in front of a capacity crowd of over 15,000 people who cheered the dominant Lions onto victory over Sevenoaks Suns. The win marks the latest achievement in what has been an astonishing season for the London Lions women’s team, with the WBBL Cup, Trophy and Championship already secured before the game on Sunday. Beyond the momentous win for women’s basketball, yesterday’s accolade also cements a historic moment for women’s sport, with the Lions arguably positioned as one of the most successful female teams in British sport.
The Lions, who have won all 34 domestic games this season with an average margin of 40 points started quickly, with Shanice Beckford-Norton shining scoring a three to extend the Lions lead to 12-7 at the end of the first quarter. The Suns fought back to take them within six points of the Lions at the end of the third quarter, but after having failed to score for almost five minutes in the fourth quarter, the Lions amounted an unassailable lead. The domestic clean sweep was secured with the final score being 70-45 to the Lions.
The team, as always this season, had a plethora of stand-out performers in the game as five Lions players scored double figures, with Shanice Beckford-Norton scoring 15 points, MVP Kennedy Leonard 13 and Holly Winterburn adding 12.
The win at The O2 marked the perfect end to an invincible domestic season for the London Lions women’s team as they made the domestic clean sweep a reality.
