BBL & Riders join social-media boycott

The British Basketball League (BBL) and Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) will be joining our sporting colleagues across football, cricket, rugby and others in the social media boycott this weekend from 3pm Friday 30 April through Monday 3 May. Sport has the power to bring all communities together and, as we have experienced through the […]

Posted in BBL

WBBL Announce May Madness

May Madness is ready to take over the best British basketball teams with all eyes on the prize of reaching the showpiece finale of the Play-Offs. And this year sees an exciting change as the WBBL and BBL series sees 20 games across two weeks and three venues with Week 1 of the series featuring […]

Coach Rob: We need to react the right way

We knew going to Newcastle Eagles last Friday night up there that they were going to be up for it, after a couple of disappointing performances recently by their standards. I knew that also from when we were up there last time and the disappointment in their whole club about the last loss to the […]

Posted in BBL

BBL announce May Madness!

A new structure has been announced for this years’ ‘May Madness’ Play-offs with the BBL and WBBL featuring 20 games across two weeks and three venues. Sky Sports will be showing all games for free on their YouTube channel for fans in the UK with the BBL semi-finals and the BBL and WBBL Finals also […]

Posted in BBL

Riders Women Beat the Rebels

The Leicester Riders flourished in their Saturday game against the Essex Rebels. Leading from the first few minutes, the Riders women ensured they created a struggle for the Rebels throughout, which led them to a final score of 71-42. Taking control of the game from the offset, Leicester Riders adopted both strong defence and explosive […]

Riders Comeback Against Lions

The Leicester Riders were looking to bounce back from their loss against the BA London Lions from their previous encounter in March and they were able to do exactly that by securing a 83-74 win at their home game on 14th April.  This match was one the most anticipated games of the WBBL Championship and they […]

Coach Rob: One game at a time

We had a good win against the Giants in Manchester but to be fair you need to give credit to Manchester. They shot the ball extremely well and Satchell was amazing with his shooting. He scored 36 points and made a lot of very tough shots. I thought we controlled most of the game without ever really putting […]

Posted in BBL

Coach Rob: The race for the Playoffs is heating up

The race for the Playoffs is heating up and the BBL continues to show how competitive it is. There has been some amazing results this season, with the last week or so no different. We were playing Bristol twice in three days – always a tricky proposition, we saw that earlier in the season with […]

Posted in BBL

Ball Out 3×3 dates confirmed

The dates of the new-look 2021 Ball Out 3×3 Tour have been confirmed.Ball Out 3×3 and Basketball England will collaborate on an exciting expansion of the iconic 3×3 tour this summer. ‘Ball Out 3×3 in partnership with Basketball England’ will feature eight qualifying events across the country during summer, culminating in two days of finals […]

Posted in BBL

Victory Makes A Double-header Win

Riders have an excellent doubleheader weekend, winning yet another game today against the Newcastle Eagles. The last time we saw the two teams meet, Leicester Riders were strong with their defence, leading them to victory. Today’s game was no different. With the constant, strong defensive strategy, the team made it hard for the Eagles from […]

Riders beat Flyers on the road

Conner Washington’s colossal effort led the Riders to a 76-62 win against the Bristol Flyers. In Geno Crandall’s absence, the GB guard played every minute of the game, recording 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, leading the team in each category. He had a season-high in both points and rebounds, as he continued to […]

Posted in BBL

Coach Rob: We know what we have to do

It was good to have a weekend off after some tough games in recent weeks. Last Wednesday we knew we were facing a tough game against the Surrey Scorchers, particularly after the two wins last weekend over our rivals Newcastle and London. Those games will have taken a lot out of the team physically and emotionally, and […]

Posted in BBL

Coach Rob: A long way to go

Going into these two huge games last weekend, against Newcastle and London, we were coming off a pair of very close losses, and particularly for the Cheshire game, we realised our defensive intensity was not at the level it should have been.  We spent a lot of time last week reviewing tape and how we […]

Posted in BBL

Riders bag another win

The riders are on a roll, as their hosted game against the London Lions adds to their winning streak!  With a final score of 76 -42, the Riders started and finished strong. Leading with 47-19 at half time, the ladies did not get too comfortable, instead continued a high level of intensive play, adjusting to […]

Coach Rob: A huge week ahead

The match at Cheshire was another amazing game. It was a heart-breaking loss coming off the overtime loss at Worcester on the previous Sunday, but we knew we were facing a tough team, when they are at full strength. I thought that when I would look at the tape after the game, I would find […]

Posted in BBL

BA London Lions Eliminate Riders from the Trophy

Leicester Riders have been knocked out of the WBBL Trophy by BA London Lions, 59-73.  From the jump, London put pressure on the Riders by going on a quick 8-0 run. Hannah Robb made a layup to quiet the Lions but quickly picked up a foul to put London’s shooting guard, Cassie Breen, on the […]

Riders fall to Phoenix at the buzzer

Kahron Ross capped off his 29 points with a game-winning bucket, draining a three at the death to beat the Riders. They were his 19th points of the fourth quarter, as he and Geno Crandall battled in the clutch. Crandall and Corey Johnson had 21 each in the game, in another tough late loss, while […]

Posted in BBL

Coach Rob: Consistency will be key

It was a tough weekend for the us but I was satisfied overall with the performances, considering the circumstances.We knew what a good side the Worcester is, and we were 2 starters down, with our replacement, Mustafa Heron, just flown in on Thursday, and William Lee struggling with a leg injury. So, we expected a tough […]

Posted in BBL

BBL has funding confirmed

The British Basketball League (BBL) have had significant funding confirmed in the latest round of funding from the Sports Winter Survival Package. This is the second tranche of funding to be announced from the Government’s £300 million Sport Winter Survival Package that is focused on helping those major spectator sports severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions […]

Posted in BBL

Riders breeze past hoods

Riders were looking to bounce back after their narrow 80 – 79 defeat against Bradford dragons the day before. They certainly put things right with a convincing 96 – 63 win over the Nottingham Hoods.  Riders used the depth of their bench well, rotating regularly, allowing them to maintain their high level of play and […]

Second COTM for Jesper Sundberg

Jesper Sundberg has won his second Molten WBBL Coach of the Month for January 2021. Coach Sundberg has led the Riders women to an undefeated record, including the three dominant wins in January against Caledonia Pride, Newcastle Eagles and the Oakland Wolves.  In the January contests, the Riders continued their defensive showcase holding the Wolves […]

Riders Fall to Derby

Following the Riders impressive win against Bradford Dragons which saw them into the final four of the L Lynch Trophy, Riders were looking to pick up their third win in the league against top of the table team Derby Trailblazers.  Riders had a strong game and led for most part of it, with young Charnwood […]

Wolves game replaced by Sharks

Leicester Riders game with Worcester Wolves this Friday has now been replaced by a home fixture with Sheffield Sharks, a 6pm tip. The game, brought forward from March 31st, is now in place after Worcester postponed the scheduled fixture. In other fixture news, Riders trip to Glasgow on 7th February will now tip-off at 3pm. […]

Posted in BBL

Rob & Conner on Zoom Call

We have a special treat for Riders supporters this Tuesday afternoon (26th Jan 2021)! The club really value our supporters and know it’s not been an easy time for anyone. So how about a catch-up with two of your favourites!!! Coach Rob Paternostro and GB guard Conner Washington are inviting all Season Ticket holders from […]

Posted in BBL

WNBL D1 Restructure

Following the decision that WNBL D1 will be on pause until the 30th January when fixtures are due to restart, teams will now only play each other once, either home or away. Riders will travel to BA London Lion on the 30th January for their first game in 2021.  Once all teams have played their allocated remaining […]

BBL Trophy date confirmed

Leicester Riders will travel to London for their BBL Trophy game against the Lions on Thursday 11 February – 6pm tip. As a result the scheduled home game on the 10th against Bristol Flyers will now take place on Tuesday 30 March, an 8pm tip. It was also confirmed this morning that the home game […]

Posted in BBL

Back-to-back Wins on the Weekend

Leicester Riders remain undefeated after securing two wins up north against Caledonia Pride (91-61) and Newcastle Eagles (66-39).  In both games, Riders gained a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never looked back.  Against Pride, Riders made a statement with 54 points in the paint and early in the 4th had a 37 point […]

TikTok X BBL

TikTok has today partnered with the British Basketball League and Basketball England to launch the #BritishBasketball hashtag challenge and showcase the best of British basketball. In what is the first ever basketball focused campaign on TikTok in the UK, the BBL and Basketball England are inviting basketball lovers to share their best basketball tricks, skills […]

Posted in BBL

BBL Statement

In accordance with the BBL Secure Play protocols and Covid-19 rule amendments, there are changes to the BBL Cup Semi-Finals scheduled for Tuesday 12 January 2021 due to Covid-19 implications. Due to a number of players having to self-isolate, Manchester Giants are unable to fulfil their fixture against London Lions and have unfortunately had to […]

Posted in BBL

BBL Statement: Postponements

Surrey Scorchers BBL Championship fixtures against Worcester Wolves (28 December), London Lions (1 January) and Leicester Riders (3 January) have been postponed due to self-isolation requirements following a player testing positive for Covid-19. Under the Covid-19 rule amendments, these fixtures will be rescheduled as soon as possible. With an abundance of caution, the game between […]

Posted in BBL

Riders through to the WBBL Cup Final

Leicester Riders Women are now through to the WBBL Cup Final, for the first time, after a dominant 67-27 win over Cardiff Met Archers. The Riders put their defensive tenacity on display as they held the Archers to a 14 FG% and 17 turnovers. Kate Oliver’s presence was felt in the paint as she had […]

LIVE stream on BBL Player

As you may have seen this past week the BBL Player was launched by the BBL, a central platform to watch BBL games. This weekend all games on the platform will be FREE for registered users – bblplayer.co.uk. Registration is free and there’s no commitment to purchase after this weekend if you don’t want to. […]

Posted in BBL

Riders win big on the road and qualify for the WBBL Cup semifinals

Leicester Riders Women are now 3-0 in the WBBL Cup after a huge fourth quarter push against the Newcastle Eagles.  Both teams went back and fourth with Newcastle taking a two point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Newcastle’s, Alison Gorrell, made sure the game was competitive with her 19 points, 7 rebounds and 9 […]

JNBL News

Our Coaching Staff continues to expand! This season we have welcomed on 4 new coaches! Damon, Keenan, Zane & Pietro will all be coaching in our programme this year.

About JNBL

Our History The Leicester Riders JNBL Academy was founded in the 2014/15 season to provide a competitive outlet for the growing number of participants engaged in the Leicester Riders Community Program. The Riders JNBL Academy is managed and facilitated by the Leicester Riders Foundation Charity. The founding and current Head of the JNBL Academy is […]

School Basketball Packages

Bronze Package – £600 (Worth £830) Pre delivery assembly. 12 hours of in school Basketball coaching sessions. A Hoops 4 Health Road Show. 2x Leicester Riders Game Tickets for staff. 1x Leicester Riders Game Ticket for every participant. Silver Pack – £900 (Worth £1290) Pre delivery assembly. 12 hours of In School Basketball Coaching Sessions. […]

A competitive bout from start to finish ended with the Wolves claiming a 67 – 82 victory in overtime 1.

Loughborough Riders fell a hard-fought overtime defeat at home against Worcester Wolves in their 2nd competitive game of their WNBL Division One season.  The game was end to end throughout, with both teams applying full court pressure all game. The Riders ended the 1stquarter in the lead, but the Wolves ended the 2nd quarter strong, with […]

After School Clubs

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS Coaching delivered to pupils after the school day.  The Leicester Riders Foundation will deliver high quality coaching to pupils via a six-week block.

About The Foundation

Leicester Riders Foundation, established in 2015 as a charitable trust, provides over 20,000 participants a year with a basketball experience. As part of the Riders Foundation’s commitment to the community of Leicester City and Leicestershire, the Leicester Sports Arena was erected in January 2016 to provide a home for the Leicester Riders professional Mens, Womens […]

British Basketball to receive £4m from Govt

The British Basketball League is delighted with the support announced today for basketball by the Government. The Government has announced a rescue package of up to £4 million for basketball to address the impact of the absence of spectators because of coronavirus.  The bulk of that is targeted at the BBL and WBBL who have been hardest hit by […]

Posted in BBL

BBL returns to Sky Sports

The British Basketball League is delighted to announce the return of coverage of the BBL to Sky Sports this season. The two-year agreement will see Sky Sports air 30 live BBL matches a season. As part of the agreement Sky Sports will also air the BBL Trophy Final, BBL Cup Final, BBL Playoffs and live […]

Posted in BBL

Rob ahead of Cup start

Coach Rob Paternostro can’t wait for the first competitive game of the season this weekend as his Riders side face Newcastle Eagles at the Morningside Arena, 5pm tip-off, on Sunday 8 November 2020. The game is part of the first phase of BBL Cup fixtures which sees the Riders pitted against Newcastle Eagles, London Lions […]

Posted in BBL

Rob on final pre-season game

Riders ran out 88-62 victors over Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday evening in the final pre-season game of the campaign. Corey Johnson led the scoring for Leicester with 24 points including six 3-pts made. Big man Mo Walker continues to impress, grabbing 12 rebounds, 11 on the defensive end. Coach Rob Paternostro gave his thoughts, before […]

Posted in BBL

BBL Cup line-up announced

Leicester Riders will face Newcastle Eagles, London Lions and Sheffield Sharks in the group phase of the BBL Cup. The eleven BBL teams are split into three groups with the bottom teams being eliminated ahead of the knockout stages. The BBL have grouped the competitions four most successful teams together, having won 12 BBL Cup’s […]

Posted in BBL

Dwayne Orija Joins Loughborough Riders

Talented 1995 born guard Dwayne Orija joins the Loughborough Basketball programme following time overseas at Missouri State West Plains, Gillett College and Florida Tech. The Barking Abbey alumnus featured on multiple Junior National Teams before heading stateside, returning to the UK to play on home soil for the first time since 2015. “The programme here […]

BBL Statement

The BBL is delighted to confirm that the 2020-21 season will now commence on 30th October 2020 with the detailed fixture list being announced as soon as possible. Following the Government’s announcement on 22nd September that fans would not be allowed back into sports venues from 1 October, The BBL has been in urgent dialogue with the […]

Posted in BBL

Club statement: COVID-19

This morning we received formal confirmation which shows that several members of the Riders programme have tested positive for COVID-19. Leicester Riders’ priority is the health and well-being of its players and staff throughout its pathway programme. The members who have tested positive, and people living in the same proximity, will now strictly follow government […]

Milo Sigmund Returns from the US to attend Loughborough

Nottingham native Milo Sigmund joins the Loughborough Riders following a season overseas at Vincennes Trailblazers. Sigmund produced an impressive EABL season with the Canterbury Crusaders earning Most Improved Player honors before being ranked 20th by the Deng Top 50 and then heading oversas. “Loughborough is a great programme with high quality coaching, great facilities and […]

Chris Linsley Returns to the UK & joins Loughborough Riders

Loughborough Riders welcome back to the UK Newcastle native Chris Linsley following a year overseas in Portugal at Sunlive and Sangalhos. Linsley returns to the UK following one season with Sangalhos in Portugal as part of Sunlive Basketball academy after developing through the Newcastle Eagles junior programme, earning a Deng Top 50 invitation. “I chose […]

A tribute: Christine Gleadell

With great sadness we announced earlier today on social-media the passing of an incredible woman, Christine Gleadell. Chris was selfless. An integral part of our basketball club and a Riders mum to so many players and staff over the years. She will be sorely missed. Christine has played a pivotal role in the Riders family […]

Posted in BBL

Jeremy Lievin Joins the Loughborough Riders

Newcastle native, 6’10 forward Jeremy Lievin joins the Loughborough Riders from Oaklands College ahead of the upcoming NBL and BUCS Seasons. The EABL Northern Conference Most Improved Player two seasons ago moves north from Oaklands College to continue his basketball whilst studying sport, noting Loughborough developmental reputation as a primary reason for the move. “I […]

Loughborough Riders core set to Return

Loughborough Riders will boast a large returning core ahead of the NBL and BUCS Premier seasons, with key faces making a return to the line up ahead of a unusual season set to begin. Jonas Dieterich, Kyle Jimenez, Liam Johnson, Carl Ntifo, Harrison Gamble, David Oputa return to the Loughborough side as a positive returning […]

BBL announce start date for 2020/21 season

The weekend of October 2nd will see the restart of British Basketball League competition with the specific date for Leicester Riders’ to be confirmed in the coming weeks. Rob Paternostro’s side will commence the 2020/21 season with the opening rounds of the BBL Cup competition, the league itself will tip off on Friday 13 November […]

Posted in BBL

Holly Winterburn is back!

Leicester Riders secure a 3-year deal with the former Charnwood player.  Winterburn will be studying a Loughborough University degree at Loughborough College through the Elite Player Pathway programme. This deal will provide her with a full scholarship and a professional player contract. Last season as a Freshman at Oregon University, she appeared in 28 games […]

Conner Washington is back!

GB Guard Conner Washington has returned to the Leicester Riders signing a two-year deal after spending last season in Europe. Conner is one of Riders’ most decorated players having won 10 trophies over 7 seasons in Leicestershire including 261 appearances. “We are thrilled to have Conner back. We are excited to see him in a […]

Posted in BBL

Ward-Hibbert leaves Riders

Riders Managing Director Russell Levenston has today confirmed that guard Josh Ward-Hibbert will not return next season. Ward-Hibbert who still had a year to run on his contract, was contacted by another team while under contract with the Riders and he has decided to opt out of the second year. Josh joined the programme initially […]

Posted in BBL

2019-20 BBL season cancelled

The British Basketball League (BBL) announced today that the remainder of the current 2019/20 season will be cancelled following the continued impact of coronavirus. The statement read that member clubs unanimously agreed that there was no viable option to allow for the season to be completed in a safe and meaningful manner after the season […]

Posted in BBL

Season Recap: Josh Ward-Hibbert

Games played: 21 Points Per Game: 10.76 Rebounds Per Game: 6.8 Assists per game: 1.3 Following a breakout season last campaign Josh Ward-Hibbert cemented himself as one of Coach Paternostro’s most consistent performers this season. Now in his fifth season with the club Josh looks as comfortable as ever out on the court which is […]

Posted in BBL

About Charnwood

Charnwood College Basketball Academy falls under the Riders Development Pathway. The Loughborough based college hosts some of the top young British Talent from all over the Country. All students continue their academic and athletic career by taking 3 A-Levels whilst undergoing a demanding basketball schedule. The programme also falls into the England Development Pathway (EDP) […]

About the Riders Women

The Leicester Riders women play in the Women’s British Basketball League, the top-level women’s basketball league in Great Britain. The Leicester Riders have won four Titles, including three consecutive Trophy Titles and the 2021 Cup Title. The Riders enter this season off the back of making all three domestic finals for the first time in […]

Report: Riders Women bounce back with impressive win over Cardiff

Leicester Riders women bounced back from their defeat last week at Durham by winning easily on the road at Cardiff Met Archers 84-61. Riders started the game with a vengeance completely dominating the opening period 29-12. Jen Ashton opened the scoring with a three and Sarah Hinriksdottir hit two more as Riders raced into an […]

Rob’s Reflections on a tough visit to Bristol and an opportunity to bounce back this Weekend

Leicester Riders Head Coach Rob Paternostro was left frustrated after Riders let another game get away, as Bristol Flyers came from behind to beat Riders for the second time this season 73-69 on Friday night. Riders had a first half lead of 13 points, and were still up 9 points at halftime, and were 6 […]

Coach Paternostro Claims February Kevin Cadle Molten BBL Coach of the Month award

Head Coach Rob Paternostro has claimed the Kevin Cadle Molten BBL Coach of the Month after leading the Riders to a perfect four wins from four in the month of February. The Riders impressive Month included their largest ever win over the Newcastle Eagles after they defeated their rivals 101-63 at the Morningside Arena as […]

Rob’s reflections on 500 games in charge and a busy last weekend

Leicester Riders Head Coach Rob Paternostro had a mixed weekend, as he went through the milestone for 500 games in the BBL as a coach, splitting a pair of games in the BBL Championship. Riders had to work very hard for their sixth straight league win over Sheffield Sharks 87-80 on Saturday night, but then […]

Travelling to Loughborough

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi sit amet semper justo. Nullam tincidunt augue metus, id suscipit nibh venenatis nec. Ut elit lorem, vulputate vel ligula eu, mattis pretium nulla. Suspendisse quis auctor est. Morbi porta tortor nec dui efficitur rhoncus. Cras at mollis massa, eu sollicitudin magna. Nullam id nulla feugiat, lacinia […]

Travelling via Public Transport

Here are the best places to get the information you will need ahead of your visit to the Morningside Arena, Leicester, whatever way you choose to travel to join us at Riders’ games. By Road/Cycle/on foot: A comprehensive list of directions can be created via Google Maps via the directions function by clicking HERE. By Bus: Buses are […]

Travelling by car

Morningside Arena is well serviced by road links as it is situated alongside one of the main arteries into Leicester City Centre, a short distance from the inner ring road, coming from the Melton Road to Belgrave Gate. People travelling to and from the venue will be able to do so easily whatever your mode […]

About

Established in 1967, Leicester Riders are the oldest professional basketball team in the UK. They are also one of the country’s most successful, having won 19 titles in the top tier of basketball in the UK. Leicester Riders stand on a strong fan base that supports all of their triumphs. The club’s impact is felt […]

J’Raan Brooks

Brooks, a 6’9” American, signed from UC San Diego Tritons, where he played his final two collegiate seasons. Brooks averaged 5.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in his final year with the Tritons. He was named to the Winter Big West All-Academic Team, named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators for his work in […]

Rob Paternostro

Since taking the reigns as Riders head coach in 2008, Rob Paternostro has led Leicester to their most successful period in the franchise’s history. Coach Rob is the most decorated BBL coach of all time, having won the Molten Ed Percival BBL Coach of the Year Award a record seven times. To add to his […]

Report: Riders dominate in London

Leicester Riders improved to 2-0 in the Super League Basketball Trophy with a seismic 89-66 road win against London Lions.  Jaylin Hunter led the charge with 21 points and 7 assists, taking over in the second quarter to stamp the Riders’ authority on the game. Leicester had six scorers in double figures in an emphatic […]

Posted in BBL

Leicester Riders responds to its supporter’s frequently asked questions

In the interest of improving communications between the Club and its fans, Leicester Riders Basketball Club have engaged in open conversations with its official supporters club and individual fans in recent months. After listening to your comments and queries, the Club has committed to various changes, and is able to provide answers to some of […]

Report: Riders record impressive win in season opener

Leicester Riders got their 2024-25 season underway with an impressive 91-69 victory against Bristol Flyers. It was a start-to-finish dominant display led by 22 from returning Rider Zach Jackson, who grabbed 7 boards and 5 steals in an impressive effort on both ends. After a series of fluid offensive performances, the newly formed group played […]

Leicester Riders sign Emma Dunsire

Leicester Riders is excited to announce the addition of Emma Dunsire to its 2024-25 roster.  Dunsire, a 6’0” forward, has represented Loughborough Riders Women’s in the WNBL Division One since 2021, averaging 5.1 points per game last year.  She has made appearances for Leicester Riders team over the past three seasons, and will suit up […]

“I know I am going in the right direction”- Elise Tweedie previews her 2024-25 season

Author: Sam Hargrave Last season’s Player’s Player of the Year, Elise Tweedie, is ‘super excited’ to be representing the Riders again this season after returning for another year. Riders Women’s opening fixture of the campaign is away to Oaklands Wolves on the 29th of September in the Super League Basketball Trophy. Ahead of the new […]

Leicester Riders 2024-25 coaching staff

Leicester Riders Basketball Club can confirm it’s basketball staff for it’s men’s, women’s and Loughborough NBL Division 1 teams ahead of the 2024-25 season.  Men’s Head Coach: Rob Paternostro  Assistant coaches: Pablo Vazquez, Will Maynard Strength and conditioning: Madeline Westland Medical: Ben Pogmore Women’s Head Coach: Ben Stanley Assistant coaches: Nick Moodey, Arjun Bahra Strength and […]

Posted in BBL

Pre-season preview: Leicester Riders at Surrey 89ers

Leicester Riders are set to play Surrey 89ers in their final action of the 2024-25 pre-season. It’s the first fixture between the Riders and the newly formed franchise, and a final opportunity for team chemistry building among Leicester’s roster ahead of the season.  Here’s how the fixture is shaping up.  Fixture information  Fixture: Surrey 89ers […]

Leicester Riders looking for game night entertainers

Attention, entertainers! Leicester Riders are seeking game day entertainers for the upcoming 2024-25 season! In line with the Club’s dedication to investing in and establishing connections with the local community, it will prioritise hiring local talent for game day entertainment throughout the year. Are you a local dance group, singer, freestyler, or possess any other […]

Riders re-sign Jessica Eadsforth-Yates

Leicester Riders basketball club can announce the re-signing of Jessica Eadsforth-Yates for the 2024-25 season.  Eadsforth-Yates pens a new deal with the club to return for a third season, after signing a two-year deal in 2022.  The Charnwood graduate originally signed from the Newcastle Eagles two years ago, where she spent her first professional season. […]

Leicester Riders sign Shae Sanchez

Leicester Riders are excited to announce the signing of Canadian Shae Sanchez for the 2024-25 season.  Sanchez has prior experience in British basketball, having suited up for Manchester Mystics for the 2022-23 season. The 5’9” guard put up 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game from the backcourt, finishing the season as Manchester’s second-leading scorer.  […]

Report: Riders take convincing win to open pre-season

Leicester Riders got their pre-season underway with a 111-66 victory against USA Select.  It was a convincing first outing for the newly formed Riders roster, in front of a pre-season record attendance at the Mattioli Arena.  Riley Abercrombie led the scoring, putting up 24 points on his Riders debut, backed by Jaylin Hunter who went […]

Julia Chandler

6’2” Canadian “Juice” signs from the City of Joondalup Wolves, where she averaged 14.08 points per game in the Australian NBL1 West League. An impressive 28 points and 10 rebounds in April was the highlight of her tenure in Australia, and was one of six double doubles in 13 games for the Wolves. Chandler brings […]

Kaia Harrison

Kaia Harrison signed in the summer 0f 2024. The American guard joined the Riders for her first professional season after playing five years at Wake Forest. In her graduate year, Harrison averaged 8.9 points per game, and finished her collegiate career with 145 games played, the second most in school history. Harrison, a New York […]

Leicester Riders 2024-25 game day information

Leicester Riders basketball club is set to tip-off for the first time in 2024-25, suiting up pre-season against USA Select.  In response to fan feedback, the Club has pledged to improve the game-day experience at Leicester Riders game day. This includes offering various activities and entertainment to ensure an enjoyable evening for all attendees. The […]

Join our Game Night Crew!

The Leicester Riders are renowned for our game night atmosphere and we are looking for energetic and fun additions to our Game Night Crew to help us bring even MORE entertainment to all those attending the Mattioli Arena ahead of our new season tipping off next month. Game Night Crew members are responsible for managing […]

Duke Shelton

Duke Shelton, an American who holds a British passport, first signed in Leicester in January 2024, putting up a productive 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16 minutes per outing. Shelton brings a wealth of experience to Leicester, having played nine seasons of professional basketball across Europe. Prior to joining the Riders, Shelton played two […]

The eye of the Tiger: Charles Thompson on his journey to the pros

“Hustle.” When asked what defines his game, that’s how Charles Thompson responded.  This should come as no surprise. It’s a mentality passed down a generation, from Charles’ dad, Tony “The Tiger” Thompson, who fought for a better life in the boxing ring throughout his son’s childhood.  Tony Thompson first entered the ring aged 26, turning […]

“I’ve always had this dream”- Kaia Harrison on signing her first professional contract

“To play professional basketball.” That was Kaia Harrison’s response when asked what her post-graduation plans were when she first arrived at Wake Forest University. 145 games later (the second most in school history), she signed her first professional contract with Leicester Riders, where she will play her rookie season.  Five years competing in a brutally […]

“Whatever I can do to support the city I’m ready to do”- Get to know Leicester Riders’ new signing Ethan Wright

Ethan Wright grew up with basketball. As much as he found the game, the game found him. His mother, Ellen, is one of the greatest players in Princeton University history, and ended her four-year career as the school’s second-leading scorer.  A four-time All-Ivy performer, she netted 430 points during the 1983-84 season, the best ever […]

Riders sign Ethan Wright

Leicester Riders today announce the signing of American guard Ethan Wright for the 2024-25 season.  Wright signs following his first professional season in Romania, where he suited up for CSM Târgu Jiu. He averaged 12.1 points on 45/37/90 shooting splits, and pulled down 3.1 rebounds per game.  Prior to his rookie year, the Massachusetts native […]

Riders sign Jaylin Hunter

Leicester Riders Basketball Club today announced the signing of American Jaylin Hunter for the 2024/25 season.  Hunter, a 6’0” guard, will suit up for his rookie season in professional basketball having spent his final two collegiate years at the Ohio University.  He averaged 14 points, 4.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds for the Bobcats in 2023/24, […]

Leicester Riders re-sign Conner Washington

Leicester Riders today announce the re-signing of club legend Conner Washington for the 2024-25 season.  The GB guard returns for his 12th season with the Riders, having won 14 pieces of silverware during his storied tenure with the Club.  After arriving in the East Midlands in 2011, Washington has been featured on the All-British Team […]

Leicester Riders announce interim management structure

Leicester Riders announce new interim management arrangements as part of an ongoing restructure of their three businesses. Simon Winfield, Managing Director of Red Monkey Play will, on an interim part-time basis, provide ongoing managerial oversight of the businesses, and support and drive, in particular, the preparations for the new Riders basketball season. Mark Torr, joint […]

Leicester Riders announce departure of Managing Director Russell Levenston

Leicester Riders announce the departure of Managing Director Russell Levenston. Russell is moving on to pursue new opportunities, after 17 years with the Club. Riders wish to thank Russell for his great service to the Club, which covered a period of very significant developments off the court, and exceptional success on the court. The Board […]

Leicester Riders and Leicester Arena Partner with Cyferd to Propel Sports Operations into the Future

Leicester Riders Basketball Club and Mattioli Arena, Leicester, proudly announce a new partnership with Cyferd, a leading innovator in artificial intelligence and digital solutions. Cyferd is set to become the Official AI and Digital Partner for both entities, signalling a significant leap forward in the integration of cutting-edge technology within the sports landscape. This strategic […]

Report: Riders fall to Lions in Playoff semi-final

Leicester Riders’ season ended in London, as they fell in the Women’s British Basketball League Playoff semi-finals 95-70 to the London Lions.  It was a closely fought first half, the Riders taking a seven point lead in the first quarter through hot three point shooting. But the EuroCup champions battled back and took control in […]

Playoff semi-final preview: Leicester Riders at London Lions

Leicester Riders are a game away from the Playoff Final at the O2 Arena. Standing in their way: the undefeated, EuroCup champion London Lions, looking for their third-straight clean sweep.  Here’s how the playoff semi-final is shaping up. Last time out The Riders were forced to battle back in the quarter-finals to beat the Essex […]

A message from Leicester Riders Chairman, Kevin Routledge

Dear Supporters, With the Riders 2023/24 British Basketball League season coming to a premature end last Sunday in Sheffield in the playoffs, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our fans, supporters, commercial partners, staff and volunteers for their unwavering support. This has been a challenging season for the Riders, with the […]

Report: Riders’ season ends in Sheffield

Leicester Riders’ season ended in the British Basketball League Playoff Quarter-Finals, after losing to the Sheffield Sharks 86-69 in Game Three.  After a closely fought first half, matching the tone set in the opening two games of the series, the Sharks blew the game open in the third with hot shooting, and the Riders couldn’t […]

Report: Riders fall in clutch to Sharks

Leicester Riders fell 74-77 to Sheffield Sharks in Game Two of the British Basketball League Quarter-Finals. Prentiss Nixon’s game winner forced a Game Three in Sheffield, after a closely fought battle throughout.  Teddy Allen led the tie with 23, hitting big shots consistently to keep the Riders in touch. The Riders had a chance to […]

Playoff Preview: Leicester Riders v Sheffield Sharks Game Two

Leicester Riders are set to take on the Sheffield Sharks in Game Two of the British Basketball League Playoff Quarter-Finals. The Riders enter the game leading the best-of-three series 1-0, meaning a win in the game would see them advance to the Semi-Finals. Here is everything you need to know about the fixture. Fixture information  […]

What we learned from Game One vs Sharks

The Riders opened their 2024 Playoff campaign on Sunday with an 84-81 win on the road against the Sheffield Sharks. Series are won and lost through game-to-game adjustments, therefore Rob Paternostro and the team will pour over film from Game One to find an edge for Game Two. Here’s what the Riders can take from […]

Riders revisited: 2013 Playoff Final

11 years ago, Leicester Riders crowned themselves British Basketball League treble winners for the first time in their history, beating the Newcastle Eagles in the 2013 Playoff Final. The 2012-13 season would kickstart a decade of dominance for Britain’s oldest professional basketball club, where they would win 17 trophies in the coming years. Here, we […]

Posted in BBL

Riders React to Game One win vs Sharks

Leicester Riders got their 2024 Playoff campaign underway with a clutch 84-81 win on the road against the Sheffield Sharks. The Riders came back from behind in the fourth quarter to snatch the win, and made big plays down the stretch to take a 1-0 series lead back to Leicester. READ MORE: Report: Riders take […]

Report: Riders take Game One against Sharks

Leicester Riders snatched Game One against the Sheffield Sharks in the clutch, winning 84-81 on the road.  Miryne Thomas led the team with 24 points and 8 rebounds, scoring 5 points down the stretch in his professional playoff debut. Fellow rookie Jaren Holmes backed him with 21 points and 6 rebounds.  It was Teddy Allen […]

Playoff Preview: Riders v Sharks Game One

Leicester Riders are set to take on the Sheffield Sharks for Game One of the opening round of the 2024 British Basketball League Playoffs.  The four-seeded Sharks earned home court advantage after their performances in the Championship this season, so the Riders will take the short trip to Sheffield for the first game of a […]

Preview: Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Hatters

Leicester Riders conclude their Women’s British Basketball League campaign against the Sheffield Hatters, in a game to decide third and fourth place in the Championship standings.  A win for the Riders will see them lock up third with a 16-4 record, but a loss would see the Hatters take the tiebreaker and third place at […]

Season series: Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks

Leicester Riders tip-off their 2024 British Basketball League Playoff campaign against the Sheffield Sharks on Sunday. The sides have met on four occasions so far this season, the Riders winning the series 3-1. Here’s how the games played out… November 17 Game 1: Sharks 91-84 Riders Sharks battle from the front to take hard-fought home […]

Ticket information: 2024 Playoffs home opener

Leicester Riders play their men and women’s 2024 playoff home openers on Saturday, May 4.  Our men’s home game has been confirmed to be played at 6:45 pm, and will be preceded by our women’s playoff fixture at 2:45 pm.  Tickets will be released on general sale from tomorrow (April 23) at 5pm.  Leicester Riders […]

Report: Riders finish Championship season with a win in Surrey

Leicester Riders concluded their British Basketball League Championship season with an 94-88 road win against the Surrey Scorchers.  Teddy Allen led the game with a red hot 30 point performance, going 11-22 from the field. Allen was cooking from deep, going 6-11 from behind the line, and draining back-to-back triples from deep three point range […]

Key Matchups: Riders at Scorchers

Leicester Riders are set to take on Surrey Scorchers on the road in their final game of the 2023-24 British Basketball League Championship. Here’s some of the key head-to-heads in tomorrow’s action… Saiquan Jamison vs Duke Shelton  Making a forceful impact in the paint this season for the Scorchers is Saiquan Jamison, who has established […]

Key Matchups: Riders vs Giants

The Riders take on the Manchester Giants in their final home game of the 2023-24 British Basketball League season. It’s an important weekend of action for the Riders in their final two games of the Championship, needing two wins to secure home court advantage for the postseason. Here are the key matchups as the Riders […]

Key Storylines: The final weekend of Championship action

Leicester Riders are fast approaching their final weekend in the 2023-24 British Basketball League Championship. They face pivotal fixtures in determining their seeding for the postseason, with home court advantage hanging in the balance. Here are the key storylines for the Riders going into their final two games… Home court in our hands The Riders […]

Riders partner with LivingWell Leicester

Leicester Riders are thrilled to be working with LivingWell Health Clubs Leicester as its official health club provider. LivingWell Health Club prides themself on being Leicester’s friendliest health club, providing a welcoming and comfortable location to both exercise and relax. They offer a range of facilities including a swimming pool, spa pool, sauna, steam room, […]

Leicester Riders 2024-25 season ticket information

Leicester Riders 2024/25 season tickets are on sale now! The tickets, which include entry to all regular season Riders home games, are available at Early Bird prices until June 7.  Benefits include a signed team photo, exclusive Riders seating for selected non-Riders events, discounts at selected sponsors and much more!  Early Bird tickets are on […]

Report: Riders fall to Flyers

Leicester Riders fell 108-71 on the road to the Bristol Flyers, making their record 15-14 in the British Basketball League Championship. The Flyers led convincingly wire-to-wire, hitting shots consistently all afternoon. Tevin Olison went off for 31 points, and was one of three Flyers with over 20 points.  Jaren Holmes led the Riders with 20 […]

Jaren Holmes reflects on the weekend’s action

Leicester Riders are the back of a 1-1 weekend, where they faced the top two ranked teams in the British Basketball League Championship standings.  They kicked off with a hard-fought 101-93 victory against Cheshire Phoenix, handing them their first loss in 2024.  On Sunday, they headed to London to face the league champion Lions, falling […]

Report: Riders grind out gritty win against Cheshire

Leicester Riders pulled off a gritty 101-93 win against Cheshire Phoenix, snapping the visitor’s undefeated streak in 2024.  The entire Riders unit stepped up after the League’s leading scorer, Teddy Allen, and Leicester’s captain Kimbal Mackenzie were ejected from the game.  TJ Lall topped the team’s scoring off the bench with 22 points, backed by […]

Championship Preview: Leicester Riders vs Oaklands Wolves

Leicester Riders return to Championship action, taking on Oaklands Wolves at Loughborough University. Here’s how the game is shaping up… Fixture information Leicester Riders vs Oaklands Wolves Loughborough University Netball Centre Saturday, March 2, 6 pm Get tickets here! 5 on the bounce  The Riders enter this fixture having won their last five games, catching […]

Scouting Report: Cheshire Phoenix

Leicester Riders take on the British Basketball League’s only undefeated team in 2024, the Cheshire Phoenix, in their next Championship fixture. The Phoenix have proved too much to overcome for every opponent this calendar year, including the League leading London Lions who they bested in the Trophy final. Here have been the keys to their […]

Key matchups: Leicester Riders vs Cheshire Phoenix

Leicester Riders take on the Cheshire Phoenix on Friday, in an important clash for the team. The star-studded fixture features three All-Star starters, and some of the best talent the League has to offer going head to head. Here, we take a look at the key matchups in the game… Aaryn Rai vs Teddy Allen […]