Holly Winterburn Bio
Holly Winterburn is a British professional basketball player currently signed to the Portland Fire of the WNBA. She also represents the Great Britain women’s national basketball team in international competition. A graduate of the University of Oregon, Winterburn built her professional career in British and European basketball before earning an opportunity in the WNBA.
Born on October 1, 2000, Winterburn rose through the English women’s game with the Leicester Riders and London Lions. In April 2024, she became a EuroCup Women Champion when the London Lions became the first British team to win a European basketball trophy, defeating Beşiktaş JK in the final.
Early Life and Background
Holly Winterburn was born on October 1, 2000, in Northampton, United Kingdom. She grew up in England and attended Quinton House School, an independent school in Northampton. Her early schooling laid the foundation for her development as a young athlete before she transitioned into more competitive basketball environments.
As her interest in the sport deepened, Winterburn moved on to Charnwood College, where she continued to hone her skills. She went on to pursue higher education at the University of Oregon, Loughborough University, and the University of East London, balancing academic studies with her basketball ambitions.
Path to Professional Basketball
Winterburn’s path to professional basketball began in 2015 when she joined the Leicester Riders, one of the leading women’s basketball programs in England. Over the following years, she developed into a key contributor for the Riders, earning WBBL Young Player of the Year honors in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
In 2019, she took her career international by enrolling at the University of Oregon, where she played for the Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team during the 2019–2020 season. She later returned to the Leicester Riders for the 2020–2021 campaign before making the move to the London Lions in 2021, where she would enjoy her most decorated stretch in club basketball.
Holly Winterburn Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Holly Winterburn launched her senior career with the Leicester Riders in 2015, a traditional powerhouse in British women’s basketball. During her initial four-year stint with the Riders, she collected two WBBL Betty Codona Trophy championships in 2018 and 2019, signaling her growing importance to the program.
She also captured back-to-back WBBL Young Player of the Year honors in 2018 and 2019. These early achievements established her as one of the brightest young talents in the Women’s British Basketball League and set the stage for her transition to the NCAA.
University of Oregon Stint (2019–2020)
In 2019, Holly Winterburn took her talents across the Atlantic to play for the Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team. Representing the University of Oregon in the Pac-12 Conference, she faced top-level NCAA competition as part of her long-term development.
Although her time in the NCAA was limited to a single season, the experience exposed Winterburn to high-tempo American college basketball and helped refine her game before she returned to England to continue her professional ascent.
Leicester Riders Return and London Lions Move (2020–2021)
Winterburn returned to the Leicester Riders for the 2020–2021 season, where she secured her third WBBL Young Player of the Year award in 2021. Her consistency and versatility made her a sought-after prospect for top clubs in the league.
In 2021, she made a high-profile move to the London Lions, joining one of the most ambitious women’s basketball programs in the country. This transfer marked the beginning of the most successful chapter of her club career.
London Lions Era (2021–2024)
During her three seasons with the London Lions, Holly Winterburn became a central figure in British and European basketball. She helped the club capture the WBBL League championship, WBBL Play-off championship, WBBL Cup, and WBBL Betty Codona Trophy in 2022 and 2023, followed by additional League, Play-off, and Betty Codona titles in 2024.
The defining moment of her Lions tenure came in April 2024, when she helped London become the first British team ever to win a European basketball trophy. The Lions defeated Beşiktaş JK to claim the FIBA EuroCup Women championship, cementing Winterburn’s status as one of the most accomplished British basketball players of her generation.
Beşiktaş JK and Athinaikos Era (2024–2026)
Following her EuroCup triumph, Winterburn took her game to Turkey in 2024, signing with Beşiktaş JK for the 2024–2025 season. The move represented another step up in competition level as she continued to expand her international résumé.
In 2025, she joined Athinaikos of the Greek Women’s Basketball League, where she added Greek League, Play-off, and Cup championships in 2026. That same year, she reached the FIBA EuroCup Women Final as a finalist, demonstrating her sustained impact on the European stage.
WNBA Career and Great Britain National Team (2025–Present)
On February 5, 2025, the Atlanta Dream announced the signing of Holly Winterburn to a training camp rookie scale contract for the upcoming WNBA season. However, on April 7, the team announced she would miss the 2025 season due to injury.
On May 7, 2026, the Atlanta Dream announced that they had signed Winterburn to their roster for the upcoming 2026 WNBA season, before waiving her on May 9. On May 13, the Portland Fire announced they had signed her to a development contract, and on May 21, the club upgraded her to a standard contract. She also represents Great Britain in international play, helping the national team qualify for EuroBasket Women 2025 with a 75–58 victory over Denmark.
Driving Style and Strengths
Listed at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and playing the shooting guard position, Winterburn combines perimeter scoring with a high basketball IQ developed across multiple leagues. Her career arc from the WBBL to the NCAA, EuroCup, Greek League, and WNBA demonstrates adaptability, durability, and a willingness to compete at the highest available level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Winterburn’s signature moment came in April 2024, when she helped London Lions defeat Beşiktaş JK to win the FIBA EuroCup Women championship, making history as the first British team to capture a European basketball trophy. She has also collected multiple WBBL titles, three WBBL Young Player of the Year awards, and Greek domestic honors with Athinaikos in 2026.
Holly Winterburn Career Wins
Holly Winterburn has compiled an extensive collection of team championships across British, European, and Greek basketball. Her trophy haul includes a FIBA EuroCup Women championship, multiple WBBL League, Play-off, Cup, and Betty Codona titles, and a clean sweep of Greek domestic honors in 2026.
WBBL Highlights
Across her time with the Leicester Riders and London Lions, Winterburn won five WBBL Betty Codona Trophy championships in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024. She also captured three consecutive WBBL League titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024, along with matching WBBL Play-off championships and WBBL Cup victories in 2022 and 2023.
Her individual recognition was equally strong, earning WBBL Young Player of the Year honors in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Other Wins and Performances
On the European stage, Winterburn won the FIBA EuroCup Women title in 2024 with London Lions and reached the EuroCup Women Final in 2026. She also swept the Greek Women’s Basketball League, Play-off, and Cup titles in 2026 with Athinaikos, adding an international championship layer to her résumé.
Holly Winterburn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly verified details about Holly Winterburn’s immediate family are limited.
Personal Life
Publicly verified personal-life details for Holly Winterburn are limited beyond her education and professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Holly Winterburn’s 2025 calendar featured transitions on multiple fronts. After signing a rookie scale training camp contract with the Atlanta Dream in February 2025, she was later ruled out of the 2025 WNBA season in April due to injury, pausing her stateside debut.
At the club level, she completed her spell with Beşiktaş JK in the 2024–2025 season before moving to Athinaikos of the Greek Women’s Basketball League for the 2025–2026 campaign. Internationally, she helped Great Britain qualify for EuroBasket Women 2025 by defeating Denmark 75–58.
Looking ahead, Winterburn’s outlook centers on her Portland Fire standard contract for the 2026 WNBA season and continued play with Athinaikos and Great Britain, building on her EuroCup pedigree and Greek domestic sweep.