Leicester Riders basketball club can announce the retention of Shahd Abboud for the 2024-25 season. 

Abboud signed a two-year deal last summer, contracting her to the Riders until the end of the 2024-25 season. 

The Israeli international averaged 5.3 points per game in the Women’s British Basketball League, stepping up in the biggest moments of the year including a 13 point performance against Essex Rebels in the playoffs. 

Abboud went off for nine points in the fourth, leading the Riders down the stretch to a 81-79 win. Her clutch performance saw Leicester through to the semi-final in front of a home Mattioli Arena crowd. 

Prior to landing in Leicester, she represented her country in the 2021 European Championships, and regularly played for Israeli senior team since 2018.

In 2018, the Nazereth-native was named the first-ever Arab-Israeli captain of an Israeli Premier League team by Hapoel Petah Tikva.

“I’m really happy to be back for another season,” said Abboud. “This offseason has been great for me and I’m excited for this upcoming year. I can’t wait to meet all my new teammates and get to work!”

Head Coach Ben Stanley added: “We’re incredibly happy to have Shahd back with the group this year. 

“First and foremost, we’re returning another fantastic person to the group, which is a big key. We’re also returning someone who is highly skilled, who has been an MVP at a very high level. 

“She knows the game, and although she had a difficult season last year with injuries, we feel she has put in the work this offseason to be in a good place physically and ready to contribute. We think this could be a really big year for her.”