The basketball team makes it to the final of the Betty Codona Trophy, but several players are out due to injuries, illnesses and a possible concussion.

Hatters’ number 5, Marina Fernandez Pardo, seriously injured her knee during the match against Manchester Basketball, and will be out for the rest of the season.

“It’s sports, you get used to it all the time. I thought people did really well when we had one of our key players missing,” said Head Coach, Vanessa Ellis. “We just have to keep doing our best and hopefully getting the wins.”

“It has been a good two weeks, despite having injuries and illnesses,” she said.

The Sheffield Basketball team recently defeated the Oakland Wolves 81-77, securing their place in the final of the Betty Codona Trophy, for the first time since its rebranding.

Both teams were semi-finalists in this competition last season, with Sheffield exiting at this stage and Oaklands losing to the Caledonia Gladiators in the final, but this time the Hatters have come out on top to reach the final.

The trophy was renamed in 2022 after Betty Codona OBE, a pioneer of women’s basketball who founded the Sheffield Hatters in 1961, so a victory in the final would be a memorable achievement for the Sheffield team.

On Saturday, Oaklands Wolves got out to a strong start, jumping out to a 10-point lead in the first seven minutes, but shortly into the second quarter Sheffield snatched the lead, which remained for the rest of the game.

For the Hatters, Megan Mullings, who was player of the match, led the way with a 25-point, eight-rebound outing on 60% shooting, and Shauna Harrison contributed 19 of her own.

Hatters player, Emma Gandini, said: “It was a really good team win. They (Oakland) did stick with us a little bit, but I think we stuck out to the end and played together as a team, followed the scout and yeah enjoyed it while we did it.”

Sheffield will face the Caledonia Gladiators in the final in February.

B. Braun Sheffield Hatters are competing against Exeter Rebels tomorrow in the Super League Basketball Championships.

The match is at the Essex Sports Arena, an away game for the Sheffield team.

When discussing the difference between a home and away game, Ms Ellis said: “For some of our games we’re travelling for four or five hours before we play so the home game, the home support, the atmosphere at home is really good. I think it does give you an advantage.”

Both teams have won three matches and lost one, so all is to play for on Saturday.

The Hatters next home game is on the 17 December against Nottingham Wildcats.