Katie Januszewska needs help, and it’s the Leicester Riders’ obligation to find it.

Things can only get better for Leicester Riders fans after a hugely underwhelming ninth-placed finish in the Super League Basketball Women (SLBW) championship standings — resulting in no postseason basketball.

While four wins on the season were a major disappointment, the roster didn’t need a complete rebuild, just fine-tuning around the sporadic talent the team already possessed.

Of course, that means Leicester must find a way to convince key players that their future belongs in this city and a clear blueprint for progression is in place — clearly the franchise managed this with Katie Januszewska.

Januszewska averaged 15.6 points, 3.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game, allowing the forward to establish herself as an integral cog in the Riders’ system.

However, one signing does not signal change. Leicester’s executives must get to work on bolstering a team and providing Januszewska with competent help.

Defensive reinforcements are a must for the Riders

This is not Leicester’s offseason checklist, but if the team wants to progress, they can’t continue to fold under the pressure of the opposition’s offence.

Katie Januszewska’s quick hands may have allowed her to register 1.4 steals per game, but this side of her game is not what makes her such an exciting talent.

Leicester lost four of their final five games of the season — conceding 90+ points on three occasions. One of these defeats came at the hands of the Sheffield Hatters, who chalked up a whopping 106 points against the Riders.

While the age-old saying is defence wins championships, this shouldn’t be Leicester’s aim during recruitment, but progressing up the championship ladder is the bare minimum — this will not happen when conceding such a high volume of points per game.

Something must change in Leicester

Retaining Jada Holland would add some continuity to this team, and the exciting guard brought a two-way presence to the floor on a nightly basis.

Over 14 games, Holland recorded a team-high 16.4 points, 3.3 assists, and most importantly, 2.2 steals per game. But if we use last season as a reference point, her defensive tenacity is not enough to change the team’s fortunes.

Uncovering an established defender at this level is not just highly difficult; it is also a very pricey deal to negotiate. For Leicester to improve their luck on this end of the court, they may have to turn to cheaper, undiscovered alternatives.

The NCAA is a breeding ground for players desperate to kickstart their professional careers, and over recent years, the SLBW has seen some outstanding talents come and go from the league.

If the Loughborough-based team are serious about progression, they must scour the American market in order to discover a diamond in the rough that can catapult them up the championship standings.

Katie Januszewska is a great start for the Leicester Riders in the offseason, but they must not rest on their laurels and keep adding talent to this roster.