• Home
• News

13 February 2026  5 min read

W/EABL Players of the Week (11 Feb 2026)

You can have your say on this week’s selections and give a shout-out to the players you think deserve one on the Academy League channels.

Instagram Facebook X

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 the EABL and WEABL, 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

EABL honours go to Demi Babalola after he put together the performance needed to help Manchester seal the EABL North title.

Needing to win away to SGS College to secure top spot, Babalola left the outcome in no doubt as he produced a huge stat line to get Magic over the line.

His 24 points came on a stunning 11/12 shooting performance (91%) and he also controlling the glass with a game-high 13 rebounds, as Manchester head into the playoffs with one the EABL's #1 seeds.

"I’m really grateful for the recognition," said Babalola. "It’s a reflection of the hard work the team puts in every week and I hope we can take this momentum into the playoffs.

Manchester Magic head coach Tom Paraskeva added: "Demi continually puts in the work each week to be ready to contribute to our team. We are all looking forward to testing ourselves in the playoffs."

The latest WEABL award goes to Oaklands' Holly Welch after she narrowly pipped 14-year-old HHS Reading Rockets starlet Matilda Upfold.

The Wolves grabbed a narrow 74-72 victory against Barking on Wednesday, and even though the result wouldn't be enough to secure the head-to-head tiebreaker between the sides and lift Oaklands into third, Welch's side can still head into the post-season on a high.

Welch's 32 points were easily a game-high, 12 points higher than the next closest player, and came at a 70% pace (14/20 FGs).

Her 12 rebounds were also a game-high, improving on an already impressive performance and locking the Wolves' standout in as the WEABL POTW.

"It was a really tough game and we had to stick together and work for the result," said Welch.

"It’s great to finish the regular season with the win and take that positive into playoffs! We’ve learned a lot and we keep growing as a team, we’re hoping it can help us with the upset in round one of the playoffs."

Oaklands head coach Shanice Beckford-Norton added: "Holly has had a terrific year and this last regular season game was a highlight of all the work she has put in.

"The numbers show her dominance but her character, determination and fight is what’s most impressive in these games. She’s been a leader for us, something I know she is wanting to continue into playoffs."

EABL Team of the Week

Demi Babalola - Manchester Magic (24pts, 13reb, 2ast, 38eff)

Rudy Buckingham - Charnwood College Riders (28pts, 3reb, 2stl, 25eff, 7/12 3PTs)

Harry Sheehan - Myerscough College (22pts, 3reb, 19eff, 5/10 3PTs)

Raffy Connolly - Barking Abbey (19pts, 6reb, 2stl, 18eff)

Dawid Cimochowski - Itchen College (13pts, 11reb, 19eff)

After featuring in plenty of EABL weekly teams this season, it's fitting for POTW Babalola to anchor the side following the conclusion of Manchester's regular season.

Rudy Buckingham knocked down seven triples as a constant source of offence for Charnwood as they edged BMet, and Myerscough's Harry Sheehan was another dialled in from long range in Myerscough's easy win over Derby.

Barking's victory over Oaklands was an important one for the Londoners, with 19 points from Raffy Connolly the biggest contribution in the 77-68 success, but BA's efforts to nab second spot in the South would be in vain as Dawid Cimochowski helped Itchen to a 95-55 W over HHS, providing a valuable double-double in the process.

Honourable mentions

Larry Duru - BMet City of Birmingham Rockets (30pts, 14reb, 3ast, 34eff)
Tristan Curran - Charnwood College Riders (22pts, 10reb, 6ast, 3stl, 25eff)
Jack Walton - Manchester Magic (17pts, 2reb, 7ast, 22eff, 5/7 3PTs)
Olivier Esingle - Myerscough College (10pts, 7reb, 8ast, 3stl, 23eff)
Dylan Gladstone - Oaklands Wolves (18pts, 15reb, 2blk, 28eff)

WEABL Team of the Week

Holly Welch - Oaklands Wolves (32pts, 12reb, 2stl, 39eff)

Matilda Upfold - HHS Reading Rockets (23pts, 20reb, 5stl, 30eff)

Paige Jagger - Manchester Mystics (23pts, 7reb, 2ast, 4stl, 24eff)

Darcey Woodman - Oaklands Wolves (13pts, 8reb, 3ast, 15eff)

Cecilia Victorious - Barking Abbey (12pts, 9reb, 20eff)

POTW Welch is joined by team mate Darcey Woodman after the Wolves' forward played a solid support role in Oaklands' narrow 74-72 against Barking.

Matilda Upfold's stunning performance for HHS allowed the Rockets to pick up their first win of the season, and her 23-point, 20-rebound double-double was worthy of recognition.

Paige Jagger helped Manchester to stay in the WEABL North title race, leading her side in points, rebounds and steals in the 64-54 win over Sheffield.

The final spot went to Barking's Cecilia Victorious, who certainly couldn't shoulder much of the blame for her side's narrow loss to Oaklands after a 12-point, nine-rebound that kept the game close for the hosts.

Honourable mentions

Sharmaine Carabana - The Sheffield College (13pts, 2reb, 5ast, 12eff)
Iris Gannon - HHS Reading Rockets (12pts, 2reb, 6stl, 11eff)
Ellie Blunt - Itchen College (25pts, 3reb, 3stl, 10eff)

Main image credit - Harry Collins