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21 January 2026  11 min read

Sure Shot Junior National Cup Finals 25/26 - preview, live streams, live stats & more

We've got previews below of all four of the Sure Shot National Cup Finals from across the Jnr. NBL, and fixture titles are clickable to access live stats links.

Live streams are also available, along with a gallery of photos of this year's finalists in action at the bottom of the page.

Rosters for each of this weekend's finals can be accessed from the button below:

Cup Final Rosters

Haven't got your ticket yet? Act fast! They'll be available on the door, but allocations are selling fast so click the button below to avoid disappointment.

Get Your Tickets Here

11am: U16 Girls Sure Shot National Cup Final: Milton Keynes Breakers v Manchester Mystics 

Reigning champs Manchester Mystics will be looking to defend their crown as they take on Milton Keynes Breakers in the U16 Girls Sure Shot National Cup Final.

A win would give Mystics their third Cup win in the last four years, adding to their four titles to date, and few would bet against the Northern powerhouse given their season so far.

At 15-0 in the U16 North Premier with an average margin of victory of 40.1PPG, Manchester have steamrollered their way through their schedule in 2025/26. They'll look to keep that momentum going in Worcester to add another chapter to the team's storied history.

Milton Keynes were runners up in this competition in 2023/24, losing out to Richmond 86-66 that day, but the Breakers are looking to get their name on the Cup for the first time in their history this weekend.

Currently second in the North Premier at 14-1, their lone defeat was an 83-62 away defeat in Manchester back in mid-November. Despite the one loss, MK have been even more dominant than their opponents this season, winning their match-ups by an average of 57.6PPG.

Manchester edged a narrow 69-66 semi-final against CoLA to get this far, preceding that with wins against York Eagles (69-27), Sheffield Hatters (76-70) and Sheffield Arrows (75-37).

MK had a more straightforward path, starting with a 115-36 W against Bristol Flyers and following up with victories against Sussex Storm (99-41), Kingston Lions (78-61) and Barking RDF Eagles (81-39) in the semi-finals.

A number of the Breakers' roster have been earning their stripes in the WEABL this season, including captain Faith Deakin, Sofia Elnur and Lulu Keates-Swankie. Last season's U14 Playoff Final MVP and GB U16s Chantelle Okoli has graduated to this U16s set-up, as has another that impressed at last year's Junior Final Fours, Abi Ajayi.

Manchester has a deep and talented roster of their own, headlined by last season's U16 Playoff Final MVP Anya Williams, who is back for more at this level. Tiana Walker also returns for that Championship winning team, with Elsa Critchley progressing from last year's standout U14s side to make the roster as well.

Milton Keynes Breakers' captain Faith Deakin:

"I’m proud of my team-mates and our coaches for making it to the Final and we’ve all enjoyed the journey getting here, facing some tough competitors on the way.

"We’ve trained really hard to be in this position and we’re all excited to fight to the end."

Manchester Mystics' Anya Williams:

"We're all looking forward to Cup Final. As a team, it's an opportunity for us to continue to grow against the best competition in the country.

"It is one of our goals this season to return after last season, and to hopefully retain our title as winners."

1:30pm: U16 Boys Sure Shot National Cup Final: London Legends v Manchester Magic 

It's North vs South for the U16 Boys Sure Shot National Cup as London Legends and Manchester Magic go at it in Worcester.

The two clubs couldn't be more different in their past experiences. Magic have won this competition a record 12 times, and the Playoffs at this level 13 times, but were held without either title a year ago.

For the Legends, this is their first Cup Final, a proud moment for any programme, but the Londoners are far from here to make up the numbers.

With an 11-2 record in the Western Prem, the Legends have been enjoying a standout campaign so far. They've navigated six rounds of the Cup to get this far, including an 88-49 semi-final win against Milton Keynes, and they'll be itching to go one step further in Worcester to put their name on this famous trophy for the very first time.

Magic are unbeaten North Premier leaders in reply, going 12-0 so far to lead the way in their division.

Beating Western Prem leaders London Elite in the last round, 92-90, Manchester mean business and will want to keep writing history for the North West club.

Guard Trey Marshall averaged an impressive 27.0PPG at the U14 JFFs last April, he'll be a player to watch for London now he's a key part of their U16 line up. Jayden Andriloionis follows Marshall from last year's 14s, and coupled with GB U16s forward Elijah Imevbore, all three players will hope to have a big impact on the Final.

Guard Theo Westwood top scored in Manchester's quarter-final win over St Helens, dropping 27 points, and he's an exciting player to watch alongside fellow guard David Ihonmeke Akhidime, who led the way in the semi-final win over London Elite.

London Legends' head coach Saheed Maja:

"Getting to the Cup Final for the first time in this club’s history is a massive moment for everyone involved; players, families, and the club's supporters.

"The boys have earned this opportunity through their commitment and the way they’ve grown together all season. We know we’re coming up against a strong Manchester Magic side, and we respect the challenge ahead, but we’re going into the Final focused, prepared, and excited.

"If we play with the same togetherness, discipline, and belief that’s brought us this far, we’ll be fine."

Manchester Magic's Ege Cakmakkaya:

"Reaching the Final stands as a testament to who we are as a team - defined by unity, relentless effort, and a collective belief that hard work, done together, shapes extraordinary outcomes." 

3:45pm: U18 Women’s Sure Shot National Cup Final: Endeavour Ipswich Basketball v Nottingham Wildcats 

Two heavyweight Academy programmes go head-to-head in Worcester for this year's U18 Women’s Sure Shot National Cup as Endeavour Ipswich Basketball and Nottingham Wildcats face off.

It'll be the first Final since 2019/20 not to include regular challengers CoLA Southwark Pride, with last year's finalists and 2022/23 winners Ipswich looking for a fifth success at this level, drawing them level with Pride as the competition's most success side.

Nottingham's path is a different one, with the Wildcats aiming to take a first title from their maiden finals appearance, kickstarting some dominance of their own.

A pair of standout WEABL programmes, both these rosters are deep and contain a number of standout talents.

Nottingham's Tiarna Chambers-Desmond is a current GB U18 pick, with team-mate Ophelia Larder-Lee featuring for last season's GB U16s after being named to the U16 JFFs All Star Five during her time with Sheffield Hatters.

Both feature in this season's list of top WEABL scorers, with Chambers-Desmond's 22.2PPG ranking second and Larder-Lee's 17.6PPG good for eighth.

In reply, Copleston can call upon WEABL efficiency leader Holly Ensoll. The rapidly-developing forward has collected a number of weekly accolades in both the WEABL and WNBL Division One, and her presence around the basket can't be understated.

Another GB U18 selection from last summer alongside Ipswich guard Maisie Keyes, the duo will look to produce alongside breakout guard Angel Whyte, who averages 18.2PPG in the WEABL this season.

In Jnr. NBL League play, Ipswich sit at 5-1 in the South Premier, though Nottingham remain unbeaten at 4-0 in the North.

Wins over Canterbury Academy Crusaders (91-38), Abbey Nation (65-51) and long-time rivals CoLA (65-37) in the semi-finals helped punch Ipswich's ticket to the U18 showpiece.

Nottingham have been untroubled in their route to Worcester, beating Sheffield Arrows II, Manchester Mystics, Sheffield Arrows I and Milton Keynes by an average of 47.0PPG.

All eyes will be on this one as a potential WEABL playoff dress rehearsal, with some of the top U18 talent in the country going toe-to-toe.

Endeavour Ipswich Basketball's head coach Harriet Welham: 

"We are really excited to be back in the National Cup Final. We love this competition, whether at senior or junior level, and are really looking forward to the chance of going one better than last year at the U18 level.

"We know Nottingham will be a tough test."

Nottingham Wildcats' head coach Siobhán Prior: "We are pleased to have reached our first Cup Final at U18 Women’s level.

"Showpiece finals are always fun and it’s nice to give our fans and the club a mid-season spectacle to be part of.

"Our main goal is to play with intent, togetherness and joy in every moment of the game. If we control that, our outcomes usually take care of themselves."

6:00pm: U18 Men’s Sure Shot National Cup Final: Derby Trailblazers v CoLA Southwark Pride 

Two more sides with deep Academy roots will contest the U18 Men's Sure Shot National Cup Final, with Derby Trailblazers and CoLA Southwark Pride both looking to go all the way.

CoLA are defending champs after taking last season's Final 67-62 against Charnwood, and can make it two-in-a-row, and a third title overall, with success to close Saturday's schedule.

That won't be an easy task against 2023/24 finalists Derby, who have been going from strength-to-strength in recent seasons and own an 8-3 record in the North Premier.

In the East Premier, CoLA are flying, and at 14-0 they're handled all comers so far this season. With an average margin of victory of 34.8PPG, experience playing in both the EABL and NBL Division One is clearly paying big dividends for Pride's young hopefuls.

Forward Toby Gass is one such example. Averaging 18.8PPG in the EABL and collecting over 23 minutes per contest in D1M, he's primed to have a big impact on this year's U18 Final alongside Daniel and David Banjoko, Andrew Nwokolo and others who have followed a similar multi-competition path this season.

Derby can counter with reigning EABL North Player of the Year Casey Burr, who is picking up minutes for Derby's BCB side. Scorer of 47 points in Derby's quarter-final win over Milton Keynes, the young star leads a group looking the make some history.

Outside of Burr and captain Jarom Howlett, Derby have little crossover with the EABL roster, allowing the Jnr. NBL cohort to forge their own path, and so far, they haven't disappointed in making a name for themselves.

Derby beat Reading in a low-scoring Semi-Final, coming through 58-44 to follow up from Burr's scoring heroics against MK. Previous wins against Sheffield Sharks (87-60), St Helens Saints (95-82) and Cheshire Phoenix White (76-69) set the stage for the Trailblazers' run to the Final.

As you'd expect given their league form, CoLA have faced just two single-digit games on their way to Worcester. A 54-48 success against London Elite and a 68-59 win against Sussex Storm was followed by a 79-37 W against London Legends and a 74-48 victory against Manchester. 

Derby Trailblazers' captain Jarom Howlett:

"We have worked so hard all year to be in the position we are now, I'm so proud of all of our guys.

"Regardless of if they top score or don’t even get in the game, I feel we have shown great maturity as a group and deserve the success we are having."

CoLA Southwark Pride's Andrew Nwokolo:

"Reaching the Cup Final is the reward from the hard work our team has collectively put in. Derby are a good team with some good players but we will be well prepared, both offensively and defensively.

"It is a privilege to play in these kind of games and we hope it's a good game for the fans."