Sheffield Hatters have been at the forefront of youth development in women’s basketball for numerous years and no-one can attest to that more than current player and England representative Ophelia Larder-Lee.
The guard has featured in five victories for the Hatters so far this season in what has been her first season in the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL).
On her time in the WBBL this season, 15-year-old Larder-Lee said: “it’s an amazing experience for me to be in a team who are doing really well this season and who have a legacy like the Hatters.”
“It’s been really important and playing with amazing players just helps you improve yourself and it helps improve how you play and how you think in a game.”
The youngster also features for the Hatters’ U16s side as she continues her rise through the ranks at the club after starting in the Hotshots when she was 8.
Sheffield’s U16s side have made it into the playoffs for what will be Larder-Lee’s second consecutive season, after she made the final four in the U14s league last season, with the team facing London this week with hopes of making the final four.
On the u16s playoffs, Larder-Lee said: “I think [the achievements of the young teams] show that it’s going to be a really good future for the Hatters.”
“The team I was in last year (the u15s) made it to the final four and to be in the playoffs again shows that after continuous years we can still play at this level and get to the playoffs and final four.”
Larder-Lee’s success hasn’t been without rewards as she was part of the England team who claimed a second consecutive title in the Girls U16s Four Nations tournament.
She is also hoping to make the team for England u15s Girls squad which has a selection camp at the end of May ahead of numerous tournaments across the summer months.
On her international success, Larder-Lee said: “I was really happy and excited and it means a lot to represent your country and to play against other countries in tournaments because it means you get to meet a lot more people.”
“You get to play at another level and it’s amazing really as the England u16s are a very strong team and England has always had really strong and talented athletes who are coming up the programme.”
All of the Sheffield Hatters’ players have made the most of the 2023-24 season with the Hatters’ Division 2 side winning their league as well as the WBBL, the U14s, U16s and Div 2 sides all making their respective playoffs.
All of the playoffs in these leagues will be competed in the next couple of months with Sheffield looking to build upon their successes as a pioneer of the UK Women’s game.
The next match for the Sheffield Hatters WBBL team is set to be a thrilling game as they face Eurocup champions London Lions at the Canon Medical Arena this Sunday.