Shanice Beckford-Norton: Champion, Leader, Connector

Shanice Beckford-Norton is a serial winner.

Since making her way to the London Lions in 2020, the 5’8” point guard has claimed trophies and individual accolades across the board, culminating in the historic Europe Cup victory in 2024.

The technical talent is undeniable. Beckford-Norton is a physical defender, relentless in her drives to the rim, and a cultured playmaker in the open court.

And yet, it is her supreme mentality that lifts Shanice into a league of her own.

Awareness, composure, collaboration, and consistency. Beckford-Norton’s basketball IQ allows her to observe the game outside of the chaos, ensuring she makes the right decisions for herself and her teammates.

The dedication to uplifting others extends beyond the court. Beckford-Norton founded SBN: For the Kids, a non-profit seeking to provide resources and education to young people through sport. She is a board trustee of Basketball4All, an ambassador for Sports Aid, and a coach and mentor for countless young players.

Acting as an inspiration and guide for the next generation, Beckford-Norton lends her talent and mental toughness while continuing to perform at the highest level for both club and country.

In conversation with GB Basketball, Beckford-Norton laid out her journey to the upper echelons of professional basketball and the lessons and experiences that informed her outlook on the game and on life.

Growing up in London, Beckford-Norton was surrounded by sport. Her brother, Dominic, a talented player in his own right, introduced Shanice to the game of basketball at a young age, and from then on, the goal was set.

Her natural athleticism and aptitude for the game earned her the opportunity to travel across the pond for her final two years of high school. But this transition was not without its adversity.

“To be honest, I thought about moving very, very little beforehand.

“My family probably thought about it way more than I did, but they knew what a positive impact it could have for me.

“I didn't think about it until I came back home. Being around my mum, my brother, my uncle, and my cousins, and seeing my friends again, I think it really showed me the life I left behind that I could have had if I had stayed here.

“So I do mourn that a little bit, but I know it was great for my development as a basketball player, and I know they're proud of everything I did out there.”

Despite the tribulations of moving to a new country, away from her family and friends, Beckford-Norton thrived as a player and a person, securing a spot at Louisiana State University, one of the most highly regarded sporting institutions in America.

Once more, this new opportunity presented its own challenges.

“A big reason why I joined LSU is that it fit the style of play for me. Even from high school, there was a lot of consistency there for me.

“But it took time to get used to everyone being quick, or, if not quick, everyone being able to jump super high. I had to find a way where I could still stand out, or just enjoy the game and do things that I know I'm good at, without getting lost in it all, with the bright lights and everything.

“Basketball was really big at the school, but so was football and gymnastics, and I must admit, I did lose myself in it a little bit. I had to ask myself if I still had a passion for the game, and do I live up to what all these other elite athletes are doing?

“It was Skype conversations with my brother that pulled me through, as well as the friendships I made with people who gave me the support that I couldn’t get by being away from my family.”

After completing her degree in Louisiana, Beckford-Norton played a season of professional ball in Germany before returning home to play for the London Lions.

And what a homecoming this would be.

Out of the turmoil of a COVID-affected season, the Lions put together a historic run of winning, driven by the tenacity and explosiveness of Beckford-Norton’s play.

They lifted every domestic trophy multiple times, and in 2024, Shanice helped bring home a European trophy for the first time in British basketballing history.

“Coming back home, there wasn’t anything uncomfortable. Home is always home.

“Coming back and playing for Mark [Clark] as well, who was my coach from when I was 11 years old until I was 16, was a joy. Being around old teammates like Shequila [Joseph] and Chantel [Charles], it was just really warm, despite going through COVID.

“The whole journey from the very first year was kind of crazy.

“The team that Mark put together, he did because he believed in us. Half the team he already knew, and half the team were people that he recruited that year; a couple came out of college, and then we got some experience from Joe [Leedham-Warner] and Azania [Stewart] the next year.

“I think to go from the sort of success that we had in the first couple of years, it was like, wow, we have a real shot of doing something special, and we just have to keep improving to be able to get to the very end.

“And it's really crazy to think about, and it sounds a bit cliché, but it's very true that every single person was vital for the success that we achieved, and I don't think anyone will ever forget it.

“There were so many people that came to us and said this was their first game or their first time watching basketball, their first time watching a women's game in the UK. Honestly, just the mark that we left, I can't imagine anyone forgetting it.”

Since joining the Oaklands Wolves this past season, it has been much of the same story.

Beckford-Norton played a pivotal role in leading her new side as captain to their first-ever title with their victory in the WSLB Cup. This, in turn, meant Shanice tied Holly Winterburn for most pieces of silverware in the WBBL/WSLB era with a staggering 14.

In addition to her talented play, her ability to elevate those around her, pushing her teammates to succeed, is what has separated Beckford-Norton throughout her career.

Speaking on the transition to the Wolves, Shanice said, “When you're around driven people, it's easier to get into a new programme.”

“Lee [Ryan - Head Coach of the Oaklands Wolves] has this dream for women's basketball here in the UK, and it shows in just his preparation and his planning and everything that he puts forward and the people that he brings together.

“That part is super, super important, the people that you put in the same jersey fit together, how they are able to mesh, how they are able to click, and he's done a great job at that.”