(Reuters) – London Lions women are on the cusp of making British basketball history with their upcoming EuroCup final against Besiktas, but financial concerns are already looming on the horizon.
Under the guidance of head coach Stella Kaltsidou, the London Lions have been undefeated in the British Basketball League with a perfect record of 13 wins this season. However, their sights are set on a larger accomplishment.
After defeating Venezia in the EuroCup semifinals, they have become the first British club to advance to a European final. Their next challenge is a two-legged final against Besiktas from Turkey, which is set to commence next week.
This achievement is the result of a project initiated by the Miami-based owners 777 Partners, who aimed to blend the best of British talent with international recruits to form a team capable of competing with the top European clubs.
Vanja Cernivec, the general manager who joined the London Lions from the Chicago Bulls two years ago as the NBA’s initial female scout, sees this potential victory as a turning point for British basketball.
“If we manage to bring home the EuroCup title, it will be a significant moment for British basketball and hopefully serve as an inspiration for young aspiring athletes to pursue a career in professional sports,” Cernivec stated in an interview with Reuters.
The first leg of the final will be played away on Wednesday, with the second leg scheduled at London’s Copperbox Arena on April 10 – a venue where the team plays important matches.
“Our objective is to sell out the arena because this team truly deserves that recognition,” Cernivec, originally from Slovenia, emphasized. “Getting to the final has already met our goals, and now we aim to make history.”
London Lions’ mission was to create a platform for British players who had previously ventured overseas to Europe or the United States. British talents such as Shanice Beckford-Norton, Holly Winterburn, and Savannah Wilkinson, who excelled in the NCAA, have been brought back to play for the team.
Additional new recruits, including American-Brit players Karlie Samuelson and Megan Gustafson, who have made a mark in the WNBA, have also joined the team. The return of Baltimore-born forward Temi Fagbenle to London added a special touch to the squad.
Despite the team missing out on the EuroLeague this season as they integrated their new members, Fagbenle remains optimistic about their chances in the EuroCup finals, even though they anticipate a tough matchup against Besiktas.
Unfortunately, Fagbenle anticipates that the team may disband as 777 Partners, whose substantial investment transformed British basketball, plans to reduce their funding.
777 Partners recently announced a strategic review where they intend to focus on domestic competitions and the academy, rather than international tournaments for the upcoming season.
Cernivec remains thankful for the support that 777 Partners has provided and continues to hold out hope for potential new investments, viewing the EuroCup final as an ideal opportunity to attract further funding.
Looking forward, Cernivec expressed, “I still have hope, but our focus is on the current season. Once we perform in the final, then we will assess the next steps.”
Although the Lions’ European endeavors may face limitations, veteran player Kat Snytsina from Belarus believes their achievements have already elevated the standard of women’s basketball in the British league.
“Compared to last season, teams are physically adapting and becoming more competitive,” Snytsina observed. “While most teams may not favor us due to our consistent victories, I urge them to focus on self-improvement rather than resenting our success.”
The Lions men, on the other hand, were unable to match the women’s success as they fell short in their EuroCup semifinal against Paris. (Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
