The Caledonia Gladiators are a professional women's basketball team based in East Kilbride, Scotland. Formerly known as Caledonia Pride, they are the first and currently only women's professional basketball team in Scotland, competing in the Super League Basketball.
History Caledonia Pride (2016-2022) In May 2016, the Women's British Basketball League awarded a franchise to basketballscotland, seeking to establish a franchise to help better prepare the Scottish national team for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. In August 2016, the name Caledonia Pride was chosen and the team's coach was announced to be Edinburgh University women's head coach Bart Sengers, who would coach Pride for the next six seasons. After a 6 year run as Caledonia Pride and a disappointing 31 wins from 104 league games it was time for Scotland’s only professional female basketball team to look at a new way forward in respect of playing personnel and proper funding.
Caledonia Gladiators (2022–present) In June 2022, basketballscotland announced the transfer of the professional franchise to the Lady Rocks basketball club. The new team was named Caledonia Gladiators, referencing the original name of the Lady Rocks club formed in 2006, with plans for their own custom-built facility in Lanarkshire. The 2022-23 season saw the newly formed club finish 2nd in the WBBL, a highest ever finish for any Scottish team. The 2023-24 season saw the Gladiators enter the FIBA EuroCup Women in a first ever foray into European competition with Coach Ortega taking his team to the knockout stages of the competition. Season 2024-25 saw a 2nd year of entering the FIBA EuroCup Women, however this campaign was short lived with 6 losses and no wins for Coach Handy.
Home Venue Oriam National Performance Centre (2016-2019) University of Edinburgh Pleasance Sports Complex (2019–2021) The Crags Centre (2021-2022) Lagoon Centre (2022-2023) Playsport Arena (2023–present)Caledonia Gladiators win on British Basketball League debut in new East Kilbride home, BBC Sport, 6 October 2023
A purpose built 6000 seater arena was due for completion in 2024, however this has been postponed indefinitely as the struggle to fill the smaller arena continues.
Home games have also been played at the Grangemouth Sports Complex, Falkirk; Emirates Arena, Glasgow and The Peak, Stirling.
Season-by-season records SeasonDivisionTierRegular SeasonPost-SeasonWBBL TrophyWBBL CupHead coach Finish Played Wins Losses Points Win % Caledonia Pride2016-17WBBL19th18513100.278Did not qualifyPool Stage1st round Bart Sengers2017-18WBBL17th20713140.350Quarter-finalsPool StageRunners UpBart Sengers2018-19WBBL111th2241880.182Did not qualifyPool StageQuarter-finalsBart Sengers2019-20WBBL1Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemicPool Stage1st roundBart Sengers2020-21WBBL111th2031760.150Did not qualify1st roundDid not competeBart Sengers2021-22WBBL16th241212240.500Semi-finals1st roundGroup StageBart Sengers Caledonia Gladiators2022-23WBBL12nd22175340.773Semi-finalsQuarter-finalsQuarter-finalsMiguel Ángel Ortega Marco2023-24WBBL12nd20164320.800Semi-finalsQuarter-finalsMiguel Angel Ortega Chantelle Handy
Players
Current roster
Honours WBBL Cup Runners-up: 2017-2018
Betty Cordona Trophy 2025
Caledonia Blues In 2025, the Gladiators announced the launch of a new development team, Caledonia Blues, to support younger players under 23 years old to train and play, and integrate and play with the Gladiators’ first teams.
References