Leiden Women defeated Triple Threat 85-67 on Saturday evening in the WBL, a result that upended expectations for the visitors. The home side dominated from the opening tip, building a lead that never wavered despite Triple Threat's efforts to close the gap. Our forecast had backed the away side at 58 per cent confidence, but the match went another way entirely — Leiden's interior presence and rebounding advantage proved decisive from the first period.
The visitors arrived in fifth place with 14 wins from 27 games, while Leiden sat seventh with eight victories. Triple Threat had lost their last two against Den Helder Suns, showing signs of vulnerability before facing a home side that had won only once in their previous five outings. That single victory — a 75-72 triumph over Zwolle — masked a pattern of inconsistency that Leiden exploited with purpose.
Leiden's offensive rhythm found its footing early, with their guards creating space against a Triple Threat defence that struggled to rotate effectively. The visitors' perimeter shooting never reached the levels needed to keep pace, and every missed shot allowed Leiden to extend their advantage. The visitors' recent form suggested they could compete, but against a home side that sensed blood, their confidence evaporated.
The final margin of 18 points reflected the complete nature of Leiden's performance. Triple Threat managed only 67 points despite their reputation in the league, while Leiden's 85 represented something approaching their full potential. The visitors' two-game losing streak to Den Helder appeared to have been a symptom of deeper issues that Leiden exposed on this occasion.
The result leaves Leiden seven points adrift of the play-off positions, while Triple Threat remain in fifth but with their recent form calling their ambitions into question. Both sides have played 27 games, and the gap between them — eight points in the table — has now been bridged on the court by a performance that will be remembered as Leiden's statement of intent.
