The inevitable Sheffield Hatters take on the emerging Nottingham Wildcats in the first of four Super League Basketball Women (SLBW) matchups.

Date: Friday, May 1st     Tipoff: 7pm     Venue: Canon Medical Arena

And just like that, the postseason is here. First up in the SLBW Playoff schedule is the Sheffield Hatters and the Nottingham Wildcats.

It is nigh impossible to predict an upset in this First Round fixture. Sheffield is coming off the back of an impressive regular-season campaign, in which they lifted the championship trophy and recorded 15 wins.

Along with that, they also managed to clinch the Betty Codona Trophy and the SLB Cup in the process. Momentum is key, and the Hatters could not have more of it in their corner.

On the other hand, Nottingham accumulated just four wins this season. However, despite the win total being small, the performance levels of this roster were fantastic to watch.

There is no doubt that the Wildcats have vastly improved since the 2025-26 campaign commenced, but the versatility, depth, and experience of the Hatters’ roster will prove to be too tall a task to overcome.

Key Players:

Sheffield Hatters: Megan Mullings

Megan Mullings has spearheaded Sheffield’s offensive efforts for much of the season, while establishing herself as one of the league’s most dominant rebounders.

Mullings has averaged 18.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 stocks per game this year, and I expect her to set the tone for her teammates in their first postseason matchup of the year.

Nottingham Wildcats: Johanna Langbehn

Johanna Langbehn has matched Mullings in every statistic this season and has been a catalyst for Nottingham’s emerging roster. If the Wildcats stand a chance of upsetting the recently crowned champions, Langbehn must dominate the paint on both sides of the floor.

Throughout the season, Langbehn has recorded 18.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.5 stocks. Miracles do happen, and Nottingham’s fate lies heavily on their talisman’s shoulders.

Prediction: Sheffield Hatters

Player of the Game: Megan Mullings (Sheffield Hatters)