GB Junior women prepare to defend their World Championship crown as the training squad is announced.

It is all change in the GB women’s junior team as the April Training Camp squad selection is released with ten debutant players featuring in the line-up.

The GB junior women will be preparing themselves for one heck of a title defence over the next 18 months, with the squad looking to retain both their World and European Championship titles.

With key members of the winning U24 European and U25 World Championships teams moving into the GB senior team, there is opportunity for new rising starts of the game to make their presence felt.

It is truly a new era for junior participation and the women’s game in Great Britain; with UK Sport recently announcing additional National Lottery funding for the GB Elite Junior Programmes, recognising the podium potential of our junior players.

The women’s junior team also recently welcomed the appointment of Ally Hope as its new assistant coach.  Ally, a highly regarded wheelchair basketball coach with CWBA, joined Head Coach Dan Price and will be integral in the team’s European and World Championship preparations.

The April Women’s Junior Training Camp will be held at the home of British Wheelchair Basketball, the GB Team’s Elite Training Centre at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield on 3-5 April 2018.

On the announcement of the GB women’s junior training squad, British Wheelchair Basketball’s Head Coach, Dan Price commented:

“These are exciting times for British Wheelchair Basketball’s junior programs. We have invited a group of elite athletes from across Great Britain which will eventually be cut down to 12 as we prepare for European Championships later this year.

“The selection of these players is testament to their continued hard work and practice. Thank you also to their home clubs and coaches for their support and dedication in preparing these players for GB training.”

British Wheelchair Basketball’s Pathway Manager Simon Fisher also added:

“The recent Talent Development Camp showed the depth in talent which is a real credit to our partner clubs and coaches.

“Coaches Price and Hope are developing a challenging programme to enhance these players towards the Europeans and onwards to the World Championships in 2019.

“Thank you also to the public for supporting the National Lottery and its investment into our Women’s Junior Elite Programme – our athletes and training camps directly benefit from this welcome investment.”

Squad Selection:

• Charlotte Moore                   CWBA, West Midlands (1.0)
• Kayla Bell                             Sheffield Steelers, South East (1.5)
• Sophie Paterson                  London Titans, West Midlands (1.5)
• Leah Evans                         Sheffield Steelers, Yorkshire (2.0)
• Morwenna Hastings             University of Alabama, Scotland (2.5)
• Joy Haizelden                      CWBA, South East (2.5)
• Shiobhan Fitzpatrick            CWBA/Warwickshire Bears, South East (3.0)
• Maddie Thompson               Sheffield Steelers, Yorkshire (4.0)
• Katie Morrow                       Sheffield Steelers/Carlisle Panthers, Northern Ireland (4.5)

Debutant Selection:

• Adele Atkin                         Blackhawks, South East (2.0)
• Niamh Horan                      Angels of the North/Cheshire Phoenix, North West (3.0)
• Jess Dowdeswell               CWBA, West Midlands (3.0)
• Brooke Mottram                 RGK Tees Valley Titans/Sheffield Steelers, North East (3.5)
• Maddie Martin                    Tornados, South East (3.5)
• Anastasia Blease               North Wales Knights, Wales (3.5)
• Ashley Greening                Blackhawks, South East (4.0)
• Sara Millband                     North Wales Knights, Wales (4.5)
• Lucy Robinson                   Sheffield Steelers, East Midlands (4.5)
• Jade Atkin                          Blackhawks, South East (4.