Sheffield Hatters crowned 2026 Betty Codona Trophy winners
Sheffield Hatters were crowned 2026 Betty Codona Trophy champions after a strong third quarter led to an 80-62 victory over Caledonia Gladiators, on Sunday.
Vanessa Ellis’ side went on a 21-3 run to start the second half at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, as they added another piece of silverware to their collection – winning the competition for a third time.
Megan Mullings top scored with 26 points in the win, and led the strong defensive effort as the Hatters backed up their Play-Offs triumph at the end of last season to capture this season’s first piece of silverware.
Georgia Gayle opened the scoring as an even start ensued with both teams trading baskets through the first 10 minutes. The game was tied at 22-22, before Mullings moved into double figures early in the second and back-to-back scores from Jess Eadsforth-Yates helped the Hatters edge ahead with a six-point gap.
However, the Gladiators recovered with a 10-3 spell as Hannah Robb fired them into the lead with a banked three at the buzzer. It was only Caledonia’s second made three from nine attempts, while Sheffield were further adrift in the percentages from downtown at 1-of-9.
The teams still could not be separated, going into the break locked at 39-39 with the inside duo of Mullings and Antoinette Lewis combining for 23 points for the Hatters.
Sheffield turned up the dial on defence when play resumed with Mullings leading the charge on both ends of the floor; hitting a second triple as the gap soon reached double digits at the halfway mark in the third.
It was soon up to 18 points, as the Gladiators were restricted to just three points over a suffocating nine-minute spell before a four-point play from Robb ended the third period with a 60-45 deficit for the defending champions.
Caledonia were then back to within 10 at the start of the fourth, but could close no further. Shauna Harrison hit a dagger three-pointer whilst fouled, and the Hatters were able to close out the victory in style.
The Gladiators had four players in double figures, with a 12-point, 13-rebound from star player Tierra Hodges. Lewis scored 15 for Sheffield, with Nina Krisper adding 14.
Notes
- Caledonia Gladiators were the defending champions; winning their first piece of silverware in 2025
- Sheffield Hatters’ last triumph in the Trophy came in 2016; also winning the first edition in 2015
- Gladiators starters: Fitzpatrick, Warren, Robb, Hodges, Amundsen
- Hatters starters: Eadsforth-Yates, GAyle, Harrison, Mullings, Lewis
- The two teams will also meet in the semi-finals of the SLB Cup
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