The latest Basketball England weekend produced early movement in the NBL and WNBL standings, two National Cup upsets and another 50-point performance from Worthing’s Brendan Goods.[1][2]
With the season still young, the results should not be treated as final judgements on any team. They have already created useful storylines, however, particularly for new contenders, promoted sides and clubs trying to respond to difficult starts.
Worcester’s difficult weekend
Worcester Wolves entered the weekend looking for their first NBL Division One win but remained winless after falling to 0–2 in the league and exiting the National Cup.[1]
St Helens beat Worcester 77–71 in league action, moving to 2–0 while the Wolves slipped to 0–2. Worcester then travelled to Division Two side Milton Keynes Breakers II and lost 86–60 in Sunday’s cup tie. Kalvin Oates led the hosts with 18 points.[1]
The cup result stands out because knockout basketball removes the safety net of a long season. Worcester can recover their league position over the coming months, but their National Cup campaign is already over.
It was not the only upset involving a Division One club. London United edged Richmond Knights 69–68, with Jordan Gray scoring 22 points for the visitors while Lebron Roach contributed 20 for Richmond.[1]
Those victories demonstrate the depth below the top division. A difference in league status offers no guarantee in a one-game contest, particularly when a lower-division team can play with freedom and turn the closing possessions into a test of execution.
Oaklands make an early statement
Oaklands Wolves continued their unbeaten start by winning 71–69 away to Barnet Bulldogs. The result moved the Division One newcomers to 2–0 and placed them alongside Barking and London Elite at the top of Pool B.[1]
Milo Sigmund was central to the victory, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds while making five of his seven three-point attempts. Basketball England subsequently named him its D1M Player of the Week.[3]
A two-game sample is small, but winning away against last season’s challengers gives Oaklands an early reference point. The next test is whether their shooting, rebounding and late-game control remain dependable once opponents have more film on their approach.
Pool A also has a clear early group. Myerscough, Manchester and St Helens all sit at 2–0, while last season’s regular-season champions Worcester are chasing their first victory.[1]
The split-pool format means every result carries extra weight. Teams are competing not only for wins but also for position against a smaller group of direct rivals, making early head-to-head victories valuable later in the campaign.
Goods reaches 50 again
Brendan Goods delivered the weekend’s largest individual scoring performance, producing another 50-point game as Worthing Thunder and Bears beat Gravesend Spartans 86–58.[1]
A total of 50 points will naturally command attention, but the wider question is how opponents adjust. Future teams can be expected to change coverages, deny early touches and force the ball towards other scorers. Worthing’s response to that attention may become as important as Goods’ ability to keep producing extraordinary totals.
High-scoring displays also give the National League a valuable promotional hook. Individual performances can draw attention to fixtures and clubs beyond the professional game, particularly when highlights and statistics are made easy for supporters to find.
Three unbeaten teams in WNBL Division One
Barking Abbey, Milton Keynes Breakers and Anglia Ruskin University all moved to 2–0 in WNBL Division One.[2]
Barking defeated CoLA Southwark Pride 66–62, holding off a late challenge after leading for much of the contest. Anglia Ruskin beat London Cavaliers 75–59, handing last season’s regular-season champions a defeat in their opening game.[2]
Olivia Rangel’s performance for Anglia Ruskin earned her Basketball England’s D1W Player of the Week honour.[3] Her contribution helped ARU establish itself among the early leaders, although the champions and other contenders still have time to respond.
Milton Keynes completed the unbeaten trio with a 75–50 victory over London All Stars. A 26–13 final quarter followed an 18–8 opening period, giving the Breakers strong starts and finishes around a more competitive middle section.[2]
East London Phoenix earn their first win
East London Phoenix recorded their first WNBL Division One victory by beating Bristol Flyers 53–49. Bristol led for much of the game, but Phoenix found enough late control to complete the turnaround.[2]
For a new side, the first win can have significance beyond the standings. It provides evidence that the team can stay competitive through difficult stretches and execute when the result remains undecided late in the game.
Worcester Wolves also returned to winning form in the women’s competition, beating Manchester Mystics 50–43. Eri Bukoye produced a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double for Worcester.[2]
The result left Manchester at 0–2 alongside Bristol and London All Stars, while Ipswich and Brent were still waiting to begin their campaigns at the time of Basketball England’s roundup.[2]
What to watch next
The early tables contain promising starts but no settled conclusions. Oaklands must show their opening run can survive increased attention, Worcester’s men need a response in Pool A, and several winless WNBL teams have immediate opportunities to change the picture.
The National Cup upsets are more permanent. Milton Keynes Breakers II and London United have already removed Division One opponents, giving the next round an additional element of uncertainty.
The weekend also showed why broader coverage of the national leagues matters. A 50-point game, promoted teams winning on the road, first victories and cup shocks all provide stories beyond the top professional competitions—and many of the players involved are part of the same British basketball pathway.
Sources
[1] NBL D1 and National Cup recap, 26–27 September 2026