Forward Arlen in WBBL Team of the Year

LEICESTER Riders women American forward Ashley Arlen has been selected in the Molten WBBL Team of the Year.

Returning to the WBBL for a fourth season after four years away, Arlen was Molten WBBL Player of the Year in the 2016-17 season and is selected for the fourth time, which moves her second overall in the WBBL era.

In her first season with Leicester Riders, Arlen did a bit of everything in leading them to a third-placed finish and the finals of the WBBL Cup, WBBL Trophy and WBBL Playoffs.

Arlen averaged 14.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, a steal and a block each game, and was fifth in the league for defensive rebounds and eighth in blocks.

That included big performances down the stretch of 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a win over Sheffield Hatters that guaranteed third place.

She also had a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds in the play-off quarter-final win over Essex Rebels, as well as a doubledouble of 22 points and 14 boards in the WBBL Trophy Final.

Joining Arlen in the WBBL Team of the Year are Shannon Hatch of Cardiff Met Archers, Kiki HerbertHarrigan and former Riders star Holly Winterburn of London Lions and Karly Murphy of Sheffield Hatters.

Riders captain Arlen will be leading the team in the WBBL Play-off Final at The O2 Arena on Sunday against London Lions, watched by a crowd of 15,000.

The men’s team will also face the Lions in their BBL Play-off Final after the Lions made light work of the Cheshire Phoenix in their semifinal second leg, winning away 102-81, and 184-155 on aggregate.

London used a dominant 32-16 second quarter in Cheshire to extinguish any Phoenix hopes of a comeback.

GB centre Josh Sharma led the way with 16 points and six assists.