WEABL Championship Finals

All campaigns will ebb and flow, but only one team each season gets to be crowned WEABL champs.

The league has witnessed some captivating championship finals over the years, with both players and teams stamping their name in the history of the WEABL.

You can click the ribbons below for a detailed report of championship final in WEABL history, re-living how some of the league's greatest showpiece games played out.

This section will be updated upon the completion of each season.

2023/24 season +

Copleston High School 84-89 City of London Academy - Southwark

City of London Academy - Southwark extended their record as the most successful team in WEABL history, sealing their fifth title with an 89-84 victory.

Copleston came to Manchester with an undefeated record, including two wins over CoLA during the regular season, but were left empty-handed at the last following an enthralling showpiece.

With neither side able to lead by more than five points for the majority of the contest, a late CoLA run ballooned their advantage to double digits with 4:15 remaining.

That invited a Copleston fightback and that's exactly what the Suffolk programme did, pulling to within a point before CoLA finally managed to shut the door for good.

Key to the Londoners' late run was MVP guard Ayla Habbal, who had huge plays at both ends of the court to finish with 17 points, seven assists, four rebounds and a priceless block on a Yazmin Edwards' triple with 17 ticks to go.

Habbal was supported by a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double Felicia Jacobs, plus strong showings from Glory Kabia (15pts, 6ast), Adaora Diroamma (16pts, 7reb) and Violet Stutz (17pts).

Copleston will no doubt be devastated they couldn't turn their #1 seed into a first WEABL crown since their joint win in 2019/20, they were led by Yazmin Edwards (27pts, 8reb) and Christabel Osarobo (22pts, 12reb).

Box score

2022/23 season +

City of London Academy 72-60 Itchen College

CoLA defended their WEABL playoff title with a confident 72-60 win over Itchen College.

Co-champs in 2019/20 and with no season in 2020/21, the London programme have now won the last three available titles to take their total to four overall, extending the lead for the most in WEABL history.

The result looked like it could be a formality early on as CoLA used a 26-15 opening quarter to begin building what would eventually become to a 17 point lead early in the third, but Itchen dug deep to pull the deficit down to just two points before CoLA pulled away for good.

CoLA's Ebere Egbirika was a worthy MVP recipient, netting a team-high 21 points to go with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals, coming up with key baskets when her side needed them to keep Itchen at bay.

Captain Emily O'Connell and Violet Stutz both had 12 points, with Felicia Jacobs contributing a 10 point, 13 rebound double-double.

South conference MVP Faye Endean couldn't carry Itchen to the title from the #4 spot, she closed with seven points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals.

Anna Nevison dropped a game-high 22 points, whilst Florrie Cotterill had 12 points and eight boards before fouling out.

Box score

2021/22 season +

City of London Academy 71-49 Nottingham Academy Wildcats

City of London Academy sealed a record third WEABL title as they beat Nottingham 71-49.

The Southern conference winners finished the season without a loss to their name as they ran out to an comfortable victory behind some tough defence and an MVP performance from Emilie Black.

The CoLA guard went 3-4 from range and 9-11 shooting overall for 21 points to go with four rebounds and four assists.

CoLA put together a great team performance with Isi Ozzy-Momodu (15pts, 11reb) and Molly Lavin (6pts, 12reb, 7ast) both excelling as the hosts slowly pulled out of sight.

WEABL regular-season scoring leader Praise Egharevba came into the final with the potential to help the Wildcats claim their first title, but the German national picked up two fouls in the opening three-and-a-half minutes before spending large periods of the first half on the bench.

That foul trouble would persist throughout and without their star forward, CoLA's size and depth proved too much. Leading 44-27 at the half, 34 of the London programme's points had come in the paint as they also led the rebounding battle 31-15.

Egharevba re-emerged in the fourth quarter and finished the game with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double, and her eventual +/- of +6 in the 22-point loss gave a glimpse as to what could have been for the Midlands' programme.

Victory in Manchester was CoLA's third overall, adding this title to the ones they won in 2016/17 and 2019/20, moving them past Barking as the most decorated team in the league's history.

Box score

2020/21 season +

No season took place in 2020/21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019/20 season +

No final held.

Copleston High School & City of London Academy were crowned co-champions in 2019/20 as the season was curtailed due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The season had progressed as normal up to that point, though national lockdown restrictions were imposed shortly before the final was set to take place.

2018/19 season +

Charnwood College Riders 66-40 City of London Academy

The WEABL Final saw the MVPs of both the Northern and Southern Conference face off against each other as Charnwood came out victorious over City of London Academy by a score of 66-40.

The 1st quarter started with Charnwood playing great defence, moving out to a quick 7-0 lead. CoLA then converted one of two from the line to get themselves on the board but the Northern Conference winners continued to play lock down defence for the rest of quarter to lead 13-1 by the first change.

Coach Gibbons’ side started the 2nd quarter slowly as well, only able to score from the free throw line as Charnwood quickly started to assert their dominance with a few great scores from eventual MVP Megan Jones.

As CoLA slipped further behind at 22-4, the London side finally went on a small run off the back of foul shooting and some good plays from Megan Haines, ending the half at 27-16.

The second half started with a steal from young star Holly Winterburn and a tough transition finish by Niamh Kelshaw.

Coach Patel’s side never let up as a big 3 pointer from Kelshaw to beat the shot clock further stretched the difference.

After another break up and assist from Winterburn was converted by Jones this time, Charnwood hit another triple to make it 37-18 and the game was becoming one sided.

The fourth quarter followed a similar pattern as Charnwood continued to dominate, stretching their lead north of the 30 point mark. A few late three pointers saw CoLA cut their deficit down a little but the final result was never in doubt.

CoLA Top Scorers: Jade Guidolin-Duncan and Ashana Hinds with 9, Megan Haines with 7 and Amelia Sandie with 5.

Charnwood Top Scorers: Megan Jones with 14, Niamh Kelshaw with 13 and Holy Wright with 9.

MVP: Megan Jones with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks.

2017/18 season +

Barking Abbey 67-60 Charnwood College

Barking Abbey became the first school to win the WEABL Championship on more than one occasion as they defeated Charnwood College 67-60 in Leicester, on Thursday.

Charlotte Ellmore impressed with a 24-point outing along with 3 assists and 3 steals to claim the MVP award.

"I mean it's amazing," she declared. "We have worked so hard to get here. Last year we fell, but this year I'm just so grateful for my team and I'm just so proud of us."

Zoe Willis was also in contention having contributed 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in the win, while Megan Sheret hauled down 17 rebounds.

BA Head Coach Karen Burton added: "It is great for us to be back. We were obviously disappointed as we missed out last year. But we are just so happy, all the girls played really well.

"Charnwood made it tough for us but we really wanted to win this one. It meant a lot."

Charnwood made a bright start as Ebony Horton and Holly Winterburn scored all of their side's points as they edged ahead at 13-11 early on. BA finished the opening period stronger to lead 22-20 and stretched their advantage in the second as they moved 42-33 ahead at the break.

A low-scoring period followed after half-time as BA narrowly increased their lead to a double-digit advantage at 55-45 with Ellmore battling through an injury.

Charnwood cut their deficit to seven as they found their range from downtown but would finish at 21% from long range with BA able to keep their opponents at bay for the win.

"BA did a great job, they came out with a purpose whilst we were a bit flat," admitted Charnwood Head Coach Krumesh Patel. "They rode that momentum all the way through; we were playing catch up from the get-go.

"We tried different things but they responded every time and made it very difficult for us."

Winterburn led her side with 17 points as well as adding 6 rebounds and 3 assists as Charnwood suffered a third straight loss in the WEABL final.

Box Score

2016/17 season +

City of London Academy 40-31 Charnwood College

City of London Academy secured the 2017 WEABL Championship after overcoming Charnwood College with a 40-31 triumph at the Leicester Arena.

Ire Ozzy-Momodu was named MVP after finishing with eight points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, while Toyosi Abiola had a game-high of 15 points

"It feels great, not that we didn't expect it," declared Ozzy-Momodu.

"It was our team goal that we set this season and we've achieved it so it feels great.

"We found the energy to bring ourselves back - it started with one person and everyone else followed."

Khaleah Edwards opened the scoring from beyond the arc and CoLA maintained their advantage throughout the first as they held Charnwood to four points and finished with a 6-0 close.

The roles reversed in the second as Charnwood tightened up on defence and kept their opponents scoreless for over six minutes and tied the game at 14 on a three from Chloe Compton.

CoLA edged ahead by a single point at half-time, but Charnwood moved back in front in the front and had their largest lead at 21-17.

Abiola fired CoLA into an early in the fourth only for Ruchae Walton to respond to make it 28-26.

However, Charnwood endured a scoreless drought and CoLA were able to take control with Ozzy-Momodu coming up with some important scores inside in the midst of a decisive 12-0 run.

Compton fired in a late three, but the eight-minute spell did the damage with CoLA able to celebrat their first WEABL title.

Head Coach, Jackson Gibbons added: "We have a big rivalry with Charnwood and I respect what they did today so much.

"Their girls did themselves proud and it was so difficult.

"It wasn't the greatest advert for the WEABL, but an ugly win is a win all the same and we'll take it.

"Our mantra has been nothing is given. They're a throwback group these girls.

"We've come from nothing and now we are something and we're going to build on it.

"I want them to go off and remember this for the rest of their lives. The unity they've had has just been amazing."

Anna Popovic and Chloe Compton had eight points apiece for Charnwood as they finish as runners-up for the second consecutive year.

2015/16 season +

Barking Abbey 59-46 Myerscough College

Barking Abbey are the 2016 WEABL National Champions after they defeated Charnwood College 59-46 in the Final at the LCS Arena, on Wednesday afternoon.

Chloe Gaynor earned the MVP award with a tough display that consisted of 16 points (4-5 FG, 8-10 FT), seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks to lead her side to victory.

"It feels very good [to be MVP]," she said. "It was a good all-round team performance - we really pulled together to get the win.

"We always knew it was going to be tough - no game against Charnwood is easy."

Stand-in Head Coach Mark Clark added: "I'm obviously very pleased that we managed to secure a 10th national title. It was a bit messy in the fourth quarter, but you have to give Charnwood some credit - they never quit.

"I thought our defence was excellent throughout. I thought that Monique Esbrand demonstrated again she has the potential to be a top-level player, and Chloe Gaynor, albeit with some pretty sore knees, put on a very good demonstration of the progress she's made as a big girl.

"It's important to note that Karen Burton got this team to the final, so a lot of the credit for the progress of this academy team this year must go to her.

"I'm pleased all around - I just hope the girls enjoy the experience because that's what these moments are about; they work hard throughout the year."

BA looked to be cruising towards the title by the end of the third, but were held to just a single point in the opening eight minutes of the final quarter as a tense finish ensued to put a halt to any early celebrations.

Zoe Willis had opened the game with a 3-pointer to spark a 12-2 start for Barking Abbey. Despite a strong crowd support, Charnwood were slow to find their rhythm and still found themselves trailing by 10 at the end of the first, down 7-17.

The gap was increased to 15 points early in the second, before Charnwood reduced their deficit into single figures with Nicole Hofmann netting from beyond the arc. However, a strong close to the half saw BA restore their double-digit advantage to lead 33-22 at the break.

Charnwood started the third quarter brightly with the opening six points, but it was Barking Abbey who produced the more clinical run as a 12-2 spell created a 15-point lead at 45-30. Gaynor moved to 14 points with some strong finishes inside, helping to give her side a 48-35 cushion to take into the final period.

It was a real battle in the fourth with both teams fighting for everything, but they were unable to turn their desire into points with Charnwood gradually clawing their way back into contention. They held BA to just a single point whilst closing to within five points at 49-44 inside the final two minutes.

However, that was as close as they would come with Willis holding her nerve to sink three successive free throws to all but ice the win in a 10-2 close.

Hofmann led the Charnwood Riders' resistance with 15 points including some timely 3-pointers, while Jessica Eadsforth Yates scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half.

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