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18 November 2025  5 min read

NBL/WNBL Players and Teams of the Week - 15/16 Nov 2025

Chosen in conjunction with Darren Paul and the FocusHoops team, who assess the best and brightest in D1W, and the BE team, you can have your say on this week’s selections and give a shout-out to the players you think deserve one by using the hashtag #NBL2526. Don’t forget to tag us!

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How it works

Each week, a standout player plus four other worthy selections will be put forward to make the Player and Team Of The Week in both D1M and D1W, 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)

Players of the Week

Another week, another POTW award for Arrows' Hamza Ibrahim, as the Sheffield man continues to take D1M by storm.

This week it was Leicester Warriors on the end of another standout Ibrahim performance, with 24 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks adding up to another 40+ efficiency performance, his third time doing so in six games this season.

In D1W, it's Faye Parker getting the plaudits for her performance in Anglia Ruskin's 72-60 road win against Worcester.

The Wolves are a much-improved unit this campaign, making a win in the West Midlands no mean feat, with Parker more than doing her bit to get ARU over the line.

Her 22 points and 12 rebounds were both game-highs, and her 60% FG shooting (9/15 FGs) was a team-high for any player taking more than one shot.

Four assists, one steal and two blocks provided additional value, cementing Ruskin's new signing as one to watch in the coming weeks.

D1M Team of the Week

Hamza Ibrahim - Sheffield Arrows (24pts, 18reb, 7ast, 3stl, 3blk, 40eff)

Sable Cooper - Barnet Bulldogs (26pts, 2reb, 7ast, 4stl, 28eff)

Joshua Mendes - Barking Abbey (16pts, 4reb, 3blk, 17eff)

Ray Akpofure - Cobham Cobras (21pts, 7reb, 2ast, 25eff)

Earl Burgess - Worcester Wolves (20pts, 8reb, 2ast, 2blk, 24eff vs MAN, 17pts, 5reb, 3ast, 2stl, 24eff vs CAR)

Ibrahim is an automatic choice for the TOTW, and is joined by a trio of stars from Pool B and another pick from Pool A.

Barnet's Sable Cooper goes back-to-back after selection to this side a week ago following his solid outing against London Elite.

Barking's Joshua Mendes may not have had the most eye-catching numbers of the weekend, but in terms of importance to his team's cause, his team-high 16 points on 50% shooting (including 4/8 3pt FG) and team high +/- of +6 were both huge in BA holding on for a hard-fought 55-53 road win against London Lions II.

Cobham's Ray Akpofure produced a high-efficiency masterclass off the Cobras bench against CoLA, playing just 20:51, shooting 81% (9/11 FGs) and finishing with a game-high +/- of +17 in the 67-61 victory.

Worcester's Earl Burgess rounds out the five, producing not one but two 24 efficiency performances with wins against previously unbeaten Manchester Magic and Cardiff Met Archers. The victory in South Wales on Sunday saw Burgess shoot 66% from the field, improving on the already impressive 52% he shot on Friday night against the Magic.

Honourable mentions

Patrick Wrencher Jr. - Oxford Hoops (25pts, 11reb, 26eff)
Malek John - London Lions II (23pts, 6reb, 2ast, 20eff)
Diogo Soares - Sheffield Arrows (14pts, 11reb, 6ast, 27eff)
Isaac Temilola - Greenwich Titans (21pts, 24reb, 4blk, 31eff)
Oscar Baldwin - Sheffield Sharks II (16pts, 14reb, 2ast, 3blk, 26eff).

D1W Team of the Week

Faye Parker - Anglia Ruskin University (22pts, 12reb, 4ast, 2blk, 32eff)

Harriet Welham - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (31pts, 8reb, 3ast, 3stl, 35eff)

Janice Monakana - London Cavaliers (25pts, 10reb, 21eff)

Holly Ensoll - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (13pts, 10reb, 3ast, 6blk, 23eff)

Louisa Gibbins - Loughborough Riders (19pts, 4reb, 4ast, 3stl, 2blk, 26eff)

ARU's Parker is joined by Ipswich's Harriet Welham, who was unfortunate to miss out on POTW honours after her strong showing against Bromsgrove.

Welham's team-mate Holly Ensoll makes the cut after the young forward put together a double-double performance against the Bears, adding six blocks to demonstrate her ability to guard the rim.

Another talented forward, London Cavaliers' Janice Monakana was also on double-double duty, providing a game-high tally in points and a team-high one on the boards in London's 78-60 win over the All Stars.

That just leaves Louisa Gibbins to fill the final spot for this week, with the young forward impressing for Loughborough despite their narrow 72-69 defeat in Manchester.

With team-highs for points, assists and steals, the former Ipswich standout also shot 72% from the field (8/11 FGs, 7/7 2pt FGs) and was unlucky not to help the Riders to a first win of the season.

Honourable mentions

Ayla Habbal - CoLA Southwark Pride (15pts, 5ast, 5stl, 17eff)
Vicky Grey - Anglia Ruskin University (15pts, 9reb, 3ast, 2blk, 20eff)
Ciani Montgomery - Worcester Wolves (21pts, 5reb, 6stl, 24eff)

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Main image credit - Faye Parker/ARU