By signing British starlet Loren Christie, the London Lions could be edging towards an ambitious championship tilt.

After becoming a separate entity from their brother franchise, the London Lions have failed to match the mammoth spending power they once had at their disposal.

A historic EuroCup win in 2024 created the perfect platform for the Lions to ride momentum and create a buzz around women’s basketball in the United Kingdom that was frankly unprecedented on our shores. Alas, financial problems swiftly closed this window.

However, after successive year-on-year improvements, London are slowly finding an identity under head coach Kyla Nelson.

Boasting a set of talented coaches and a few star players will not be enough to close the quality gap between themselves and the Sheffield Hatters — the roster needs investment to mount a challenge for the championship.

Could the team’s latest signing signal a turn of the tide?

Loren Christie could be the start of a special year in London

While Loren Christie may not be the biggest signing in the history of the London Lions, it is certainly a move that immediately makes this team feel more dangerous in the frontcourt.

During her youth career on the international stage, Christie was one of the most exciting British prospects in the forward position.

In 2019, Christie averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and two steals per game during the FIBA Under 20 Women’s European Championships.

Additionally, in the NCAA with the Xavier Musketeers (2024-25), the 23-year-old recorded 7.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, while shooting 46% from the floor.

Most importantly, Christie is going to bring versatility to a roster with ambitions to challenge at the higher echelons of the Super League Basketball Women’s (SLBW) standings.

This may not appear to be a needle-moving signing on the surface, but Loren Christie is a homegrown prospect with an abundance of talent.

Whoever the London Lions sign next will truly show the franchise’s ambitions. If the club announces the retention of Annika Shah, then fans should raise their optimism for the upcoming season.

Something special could be on the horizon.