Mavericks got their first taste of the London derby this season as they took on London Pulse at the Copper Box Arena, but it was the home side who came flying out of the blocks.
A rapid start from Pulse saw them storm into a 7–1 lead inside five minutes, with Mavericks struggling to settle under relentless defensive pressure. A tactical timeout came just six minutes in, but Pulse continued to dominate the opening quarter, leading 20–8 despite a late flurry of supershots from Emma Thacker.
The second quarter told a different story. A turnover from Jamie Golob sparked Mavericks into life, with improved ball movement and strong connections between Thacker, Suzie Liverseidge and George Inger helping to cut the deficit. Mavericks edged the quarter 13–11, heading into the break with renewed momentum at 31–21.
Changes at half-time proved effective, as Hannah Knightbridge and Amelia Hall injected energy into the attack. Hall found her rhythm early, converting consistently as Mavericks chipped away at the lead. A huge final few minutes in the third quarter fuelled by supershots from Hall and Thacker, saw the gap reduced to just four, setting up a thrilling final period at 42–38.
Mavericks carried that belief into the fourth, but Pulse responded well to early pressure. Despite long-range efforts keeping Mavericks in touch, the home side remained composed in the closing stages, managing possession and capitalising on key moments to secure a 56–46 win.
Attention now turns to Saturday, as Mavericks head north to face league leaders Loughborough in another big test.