Issy Read (Manchester Thunder), Rihanna Luke (Saracens Mavericks) and Sophie Kimpton (Leeds Rhinos) have been named U17, U19 and U21 Players of the Season for the 2024 NPL campaign.
After hotly contested competition full of energy, skill and teamwork in each of the three age groups, Manchester Thunder (U17 North), Surrey Storm (U17 South), London Pulse (U19) and Loughborough Lightning (U21) were crowned victorious.
Over 350 athletes took to the court in 2023-24 with the Player of the Season winners chosen based on each league game’s Player of the Match Awards.
At the end of each game, both teams picked a Player of the Match from the opposition team. The winning team’s Player of the Match was awarded three points, and the losing team’s player received two points.
These scores were then tallied up to determine the players with the most points in each age category and therefore the trophy winners.
At U17 level, Read enjoyed a brilliant individual campaign as she led Manchester Thunder to the U17 North title.
The wing defence / goal defence / goal keeper produced a series of stand-out performances as she scooped three out of a possible four Player of the Match accolades.
In the U19 competition, Saracens Mavericks’ Luke consistently impressed her opposition, winning five out of a possible nine Player of the Match awards.
The wing defence / goal defence / goal keeper played a key role as she helped her side finish as runners-up, losing just once to table toppers London Pulse.
Leeds Rhinos’ Kimpton starred during the U21 NPL season as her side placed third in the table.
Five out of a possible nine Player of the Match awards went the way of the goal shooter / goal attack / wing attack.
Congratulations to our three winners! You can read more about the end of the NPL season here.
