Varsity 2026: In Conversation with Women's Basketball

This is Varsity 2026.

We spoke to Avalon (Development Coach) and Hannah (Treasurer) from the University of Leeds Women’s Basketball team.

A sport growing in popularity

Varsity means a lot to the Women’s Basketball team. They have a great team chemistry and strategies, and are ready to claim the big win this April!

The sport has been growing in popularity each year and the team find it really exciting to see that growth, especially during big games like Varsity when so many friends and fans come to watch and celebrate. Varsity brings in their biggest crowd of the year, so they want to “put on a show!”

Every year sign ups for trials grow by “50 or more girls each year,” as a result their teams are getting bigger, and getting a lot more access to resources to help their club grow.

They also described it as “exciting” to see the sport growing in the North, not just in London- creating more countrywide competition.

Preparing for Varsity

Their Varsity squad is often very different from their usual lineup, and getting extra training and playing time beforehand is not only fun, but also essential given how seriously they take Varsity.

Beckett are in the division below the University of Leeds team, and they are excited to play against them, describing it as hopefully a “lot of fun” and that they know that Beckett will “bring a lot to the table!”

Last year, Women’s Basketball won their Varsity game, and this year they’re hoping to do it again with a very new squad. It’s exciting for them to see how the new team compares and to try out new strategies on the court.

There’s quite a bit more preparation needed for Varsity, and Women’s Basketball spend a lot of time working on individual skills such as shooting, and getting more game time in during their training sessions.

Inspired by players like Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and Stephen Curry, they feel that as the players improve, the overall quality of their team and their skill rises too. A lot of their old friends and teammates now play professionally, and seeing them succeed is amazing and “unbelievable!”

The team are extremely supportive of each other, which makes being a part of the society even more rewarding. Women’s Basketball are constantly lifting each other up!

Celebrating together

Varsity brings a special atmosphere unlike any other game. With bigger crowds and more energy, the spectators often crash the court at the end to celebrate together with the team, which really boosts team spirit. The team will then celebrate with Prosecco (and of course by heading to Fruity), they love the sense of community that Varsity creates.