Ipswich Basketball Club to host European champions in huge trophy clash this weekend

In what is a classic David vs Goliath match-up, Ipswich host the Lions in the Super League Basketball Trophy at the Copleston Sports Centre on Saturday, tip-off 5.30pm.

Nick Drane’s side are the only WNBL outfit to be invited into the competition, which is usually just for the teams in English basketball’s top league.

But, with one of those sides folding and Ipswich being dominant in the league below – winning both the WNBL1 regular season and National Cup last season – the Suffolk side have been asked to compete.

And their first match in their group could not be more difficult – the Lions are a professional side and lifted the EuroCup last season, the first English team ever to do so. They’ve also won the top tier title four times in a row.

Harriet Welham is Ipswich’s star player. Her side have a daunting challenge against the London Lions (Image: Pavel Kricka)

It feels like an FA Cup clash of giants v minnows – the Lions played in front of 7,000 fans when they won the EuroCup at the Copper Box Arena, while this weekend they’ll face hundreds of hostile Ipswich supporters at Copleston.

Drane, whose side will be led by brilliant guard Harriet Welham, said: “We are flattered to have been invited to compete in the Super League Basketball Trophy.

“It is great recognition after a successful campaign last season. Even though five of our key players have moved on since last season, we will be well prepared and hope to give a good account of ourselves and the whole of WNBL Division One.”

After this weekend’s clash, Ipswich will visit the Essex Rebels in another trophy group stage match a week on Saturday (October 5) at 4pm.