Ipswich Basketball Club’s Senior Women’s team will be without experienced wing Danni Cazey for the 2021/2022 Season.
Danni is the clubs longest serving active player, having been with IBC for fourteen straight seasons (aside from the 2016/2017 in which the club did not participate), and was the team’s third leading scorer in their historic double-winning season last year. As the team’s oldest player last season, Danni, alongside captain Harriet Welham, provided invaluable experience on a team that would conquer all comers, and was expected to take on an even larger level of responsibility this coming season with so many high-profile departures. However, Danni has decided to take a year away from the game, in order to focus on her professional career, and will be moving to London and subsequently not able to commit to the demands of a WNBL Division One season. “I’m not leaving the club, and I’m certainly not hanging my boots up – but with so many changes to the team, and some great opportunities for me away from basketball, this was the right time to take a break and focus on some different things. It’s also an amazing opportunity for this young group to get some great experience at a high level, having missed out on playing u18’s and academy last year – they were a superb addition to the women’s team and we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we did without them – it’s their time to shine now” said the 25 year old.
Ipswich Head Coach Nick Drane had this to say about Danni’s decision to sit this season out “Danni’s contribution to Ipswich Basketball Club is truly legendary. She hasn’t missed a game in the last four years, even with work and University commitments and she has done whatever it takes to help us win. She absolutely has my 100% support in taking a year off – but she knows I will be harassing her about coming back next season”. Drane added “My biggest disappointment is that we haven’t been able to give Danni a proper send off. All the more reason for this to be only temporary!”
Ipswich are yet to announce their roster for the coming season, but it is obvious that the team will have a very different look and feel about them. With leading scorer and league MVP Harriet Welham now making a name for herself in France, Esther Little plying her trade at Gonzaga University, Ella Pearson also Stateside with Newberry College, Coco Leung out for the season as she recovers from ACL surgery and Charlotte Redhead and Becky Bellis both finishing their time with the programme after three great season’s – Ipswich Coach Nick Drane, we assume, we be ‘rebuilding’ the team around new captain Cameron Taylor-Willis (Now staying in the UK, and the only starter returning from last season), alongside youngsters such as Columbia commit Susannah Rafiu and talented guards Saruna Gudza, Alice Fallon and Hannah Gray.
Ipswich start their season on Saturday 2nd October when they host Thames Valley Cavaliers.