Jago bolsters Portlaoise squad ahead of start to new Women’s Super League campaign against Cavan 

PORTLAOISE Panthers will open their 2026/27 Domino’s Women’s Super League campaign with a tough test against Cavan Eagles this Saturday.

While Ger Jago’s side are at home for this curtain raiser, they will not have the benefit of the intensity that St. Mary’s Hall can bring, with work still being carried out on the floor of their home court, meaning St. Mary’s CBS or another venue will be needed for this opener.

It is not ideal for Jago and his squad which has, nonetheless, been strengthened by the recent addition of both Bria Shine from Sacramento and former London Cavaliers guard, Chinwe Iwunze.

At 6’1”, the former will bring much-needed height and power to this Portlaoise side, along with the experience of playing NCAA Division One basketball with University of California Riverside.

Iwunze is another impressive addition to the Panthers set-up, having earned selection to the WNBL Team of the Year and British Team of the Year.

Averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per game, she is just what Portlaoise needs especially in the wake of the departure of key players like Jessica Fressle, Lynn Tunnah and Ciara Byrne earlier in the year.

Delighted with his new recruits ahead of the new WSL season, Portlaoise boss, Jago told the Laois Nationalist, “We have a lot of last year's team back, but with these two additions, I'm not going to say we'll be challenging for the league, but I'm quietly confident that we have what it takes to mix it with the midfield.

“Coming from a Division One programme, Bria is going to bring scoring. She has a very high basketball IQ. She brings height to the team, which always helps in the Irish league.

“When I spoke to her on the phone I got really good vibes and I think that she'll gel really well with the girls who are there already.

“Physicality and smarts, she has it all, and it's a piece of the jigsaw that was missing I feel. That bit of height and that bit of aggression. She brings both.

“Chinwe is coming off a couple of seasons playing in the highest league in England. She's a really high-tempo scoring guard, who loves to push the ball in transition. She’s fast and a great floor general. I think it's going to take the pressure off Alyssa [Velles].

“She averaged 20 points a game last year, so hopefully she can replicate that here, which along with her physical attributes, I think is really going to be beneficial to the team, especially having lost such a high scorer like Jess [Fressle]” he said.

With American guard, Alyssa Velles poised to start her fifth season with Portlaoise, and a lot of home-grown talent in the likes of Megan Dunne and Jasmine Burke remaining on for the new campaign, Jago has managed to maintain a good level of continuity in his side as they gear up for a tough opening night test against Cavan.

Eagles, who were promoted to the top ranks last year, enjoyed a solid first season there, reaching the play-off quarter-finals, where they were eventually undone by Killester.

Like Portlaoise, they have recruited well in the off-season, bringing in former University of Miami guard, Darrione Rogers from Chicago and highly-rated forward, Kilah Freelon from Virginia Tech, where she averaged more than nine points and eight rebounds.

Add to that, the arrival of the former University of Galway Mystics pair, Ellie and Emma Glavin and the return of Casey Mulvey, who figured strongly in their Division One league and cup-winning season, and Cavan look set to again pose a major threat to all opposition this year.

Jago is certainly not taking this early challenge lightly, remarking “Cavan are always strong. They're a great club, with great infrastructure, so it's never going to be an easy game. They're well drilled, they're good, solid players, and they’re well coached.

“As an opening game, I'm delighted we're home for it, which is great. Just to have that extra noise around the place.

“I'm not taking them [Cavan] for granted. They're an extremely strong basketball club and an extremely strong side.

“You always want to start strong, but you’ve also got to be realistic. Cavan are established with some proven players in there. We're a new group, with a new head coach, and we're all trying to find our feet, but I'd love to get off to a strong start against them.

“It would be great to put a couple of wins on the board this side of Christmas, which would set you up for the rest of the year. If we can get a result against Cavan, it'd be an amazing start to the season for us all” he said.

With a number of players competing in other sports throughout the year, Jago has found it tricky in ensuring strong pre-season preparation.

“It's been a weird pre-season” he admitted. “It's been very disjointed only because of GAA and camogie and a lot of people traveling as well.

“However, when we are together, I feel the girls are improving, day on day. I’m just trying to instil my philosophy with the new group. They're used to playing a certain way and I'm used to coaching a certain way, so we’re just trying to find that happy medium” he said.