London, Saturday 17 October 2026 – London Lions Women secured their first win of the SLBW Championship season on Saturday evening, defeating Nottingham Wildcats 94-65 at home to move to 1-2 in league play.
With both sides entering the contest searching for their first win of the campaign, the Lions established control through a strong finish to the first half before extending their advantage after the interval.
Annika Shah led London with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists, shooting four three-pointers and going seven-for-seven from the free-throw line. Loren Christie added 16 points, while Chloe Wilson recorded a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Dami Adeyinkya also made an impact off the bench, scoring 13 points in just under 11 minutes without missing a field goal.
Nottingham stayed within reach early, but London found its rhythm late in the opening quarter.
Shah's three-pointer sparked a run that saw the Lions move from a narrow 12-11 lead to 20-11, with Christie adding a layup and a three-pointer. Amaris Baker extended the advantage to 22-11 early in the second quarter.
The visitors responded to bring the deficit back to single figures, but London regained momentum through its perimeter shooting and defensive pressure.
Shah connected from beyond the arc before Wilson and Christie contributed to another scoring surge. Adeyinkya's three-pointer in the closing seconds of the half gave the Lions a 46-27 lead at the break.
Head Coach Kyla Nelson praised the team's energy and defensive intensity from the outset, highlighting the work done during the week to establish a stronger approach.
“Energy from the warm-up was great. The team took accountability this week on how they wanted to play, and I thought that showed up. We had the first hit, we were able to pressure the ball, and our defence generated easy scores early. Then we were able to execute from there,” said Nelson.
The Lions carried that momentum into the second half, turning Nottingham's turnovers into scoring opportunities to extend the gap beyond 20 points.
Adeyinkya was particularly effective during the third quarter, adding six consecutive points through free throws and a three-point play as London pushed its lead to 30.
London entered the final quarter with a 74-44 advantage and continued to manage the game, leading by as many as 34 points before closing out a 94-65 victory.
The Lions' defensive pressure proved decisive, forcing 21 Nottingham turnovers and recording 11 steals.
London also connected on nine of its 21 attempts from three-point range, helping the team maintain its offensive rhythm throughout the contest.
When asked about the team's improved start and progress early in the season, Head Coach Kyla Nelson reflected on the group's development.
“We are starting to put things together and recognise how to play to win, and hopefully we can continue that.”
The Lions will look to build on their first win of the SLBW Championship season when they return to action next Saturday, travelling to face Leicester Riders.
