Caledonia Gladiators make history with Super League Basketball Trophy win

Caledonia Gladiators have made history after becoming the first Scottish women’s basketball team to win major silverware.

The East Kilbride-based franchise defeated the Oaklands Wolves 61-59 to win a dramatic Super League Basketball Trophy final at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena in Birmingham.

The outcome came down to the final play , with Oaklands Wolves having a chance to equal the scores in the final second, but Caledonia Gladiators held out to claim the trophy.

The victory marks the first major trophy won by a Scottish women’s team in the history of the sport and was hailed as a major breakthrough moment for basketball in this country.

Gladiators head coach Chantelle Handy said: “This victory is an incredible moment not just for our club, but for basketball in Scotland.

“I want to pay huge credit to my team for how they’ve performed across the competition. It was such a dramatic ending, but they really deserved this win today.

“It’s a great day for our club and the sport in Scotland and I want to thank our fans for the support they’ve given us across the season.”

The victory comes just under two years after the franchise’s men team won their first silverware in 20 years when they won the then BBL Trophy in 2022/23,

Owner Steve Timoney added: “This trophy win is a real breakthrough moment for the women’s game here in Scotland.

“For our club to win two trophies in just under two years is really special, and we want to build on this success in the months and years ahead.

“On behalf of the club, I’d like to congratulate Chantelle and the team on a fantastic performance.”

The women’s team qualified for the final after defeating the Sheffield Hatters 68-62 in a home semi-final at the club’s new PlaySport arena last month.

The team have enjoyed record crowds for a Scottish women’s basketball team with 917 supporters attending a home match against Newcastle Eagles in April last year.

Last season they became the first Scottish women’s basketball team to compete in European competition in 50 years, and won three of their four group stage matches, before losing in the knockout stages. They also competed in Europe this season.

The Caledonia Gladiators women’s team have only once before reached the final of a major competition – under its previous name of Caledonia Pride in season 2017-18 in the then WBBL cup – but they were runners-up on the day.