Newcastle Eagles Women’s Team will have their head coach at the helm and shooting hoops this season as Chloe Gaynor prepares to fully embrace her player-coach role.

Despite her relatively young age to be holding the reins of such a professional setup, Gaynor continues to show her obvious basketball nous and behind the scenes this summer, and has made significant moves to prepare for her first full season in charge.

“It is player-coach this season, but the emphasis is still on ‘coach’, I’m more of another body for the roster”, said Gaynor.

“I’ve got to make sure that I’m balancing correctly my impact on the floor versus my effect on the sidelines.

“I have to make sure that what I do doesn’t take away from both hats that I wear. I’ll help the team out where I can on the floor as I very much still enjoy playing but I have to make sure that the sideline is the priority.”

Gaynor took over the team in November last season and, now in her fifth season with the franchise, will be looking to contribute in every way to the women’s upwardly trending record after staying on the sidelines last season through injury.

“I think people thought that I’d retired from playing, I was just trying to deal with the injury that was causing me a lot of problems”, Gaynor added.

“I was still dealing with it during the summer, but I’ve been fortunate enough to get back on the floor a little bit and we’ll see what it looks like as we go into the season, and I’ll just try and do what I can.”

Gaynor’s recruitment has not just been confined to the team that she’s putting on the court, behind the scenes there are big changes in the women’s staff.

“Last season’s performance staff was amazing and I can’t thank them enough. I think they adjusted very well, it’s not easy for anyone to change mid-season when you’ve committed to a certain person and the ideology that Matt [Newby] had”, the player-coach continued.

“Especially given that my role was as a player and then switched up to lead them. I was very grateful to the way they committed to what I was trying to do. There’s no doubt in mind that we finished where we finished because of what they did on a day out day in basis, so a massive thanks to those that are moving on.”

Luke Orwin continues as Assistant Coach and will be joined by two new coaching staff members. Charlotte Redhead joins Newcastle following her time in the assistant role at recently-folded Durham Palatinates, along with Kaitlin Hovells who steps-up to the senior women’s team programme from coaching with the Eagles Academy.

“Luke does an amazing job day in day out, 12 months of the year”, Gaynor added. “I think people think the basketball season stops when the ball stops getting thrown in the air.

“He has done an incredible job over the summer to help me and the club out, and to get us through a tough period, which includes being fortunate enough to get the team on the floor that we do have.

“We took the decision together at the end of the season to bring in some support staff to help him in his roles and assist us both.”

The 2024/25 season’s women’s Strength and Conditioning Coach Murray Bingham, Strength and Conditioning Intern Jess Halliday and Physiotherapist Megan McMahon have all moved on this summer, with the greatest appreciation from the club. Each received huge thanks from the whole organisation at the End of Season Supporters Night.

Craig Tears joins returnee Alan Barlow as the women’s team’s Physiotherapists and George Latter becomes the new Strength and Conditioning Coach.

“Physio-wise we have Craig coming in alongside Alan Barlow, who was with us last season. Craig’s an experienced physio and very good at what he does. He’s spent some time at Sunderland Football Club, so we’re fortunate to have his services”, said the Eagles play-caller.

“George is coming in to do S&C for us, having worked with Northumbria University. We’re partnering up there, and I’m very fortunate that we have the relationship we have with the University.

Sports Psychologist Tom Lishman continues in his role with the club on the men’s team this season, with Lois Page taking up the role with the women’s team.

“Lois has been around a little bit, and Tom was actually one of her lecturers, which is a nice full-circle moment there. She’s been very invested from the get-go.”

“I think all of them are going to contribute massively to what we want to do this season. I’m very excited to work with them as new staff.”

This week, the club announced Newcastle International Airport as its back-to-back main women’s team sponsor following the huge lift they gave the franchise last season when Gaynor’s side achieved its highest-ever final league position at third place.

“The summer was massively difficult off the back of a successful season and I think it just highlights where women’s sport is and women’s basketball is physically in this country”, Gaynor concluded.

“It’s getting better with the support we get, Newcastle is probably one of the best cities to be in. We have the best fanbase in the country and we have since I’ve been here. Heading into my fifth year, it’s continuously growing and the backing we receive gets better and better.

“It’s not taken for granted. It’s the thing that people notice when they come to Newcastle. The support from the club, the fans and the sponsors. Undoubtedly, without them, we wouldn’t be here right now.

“I can’t thank our sponsors enough. As a part of our team, they allow us to play the sport we love, and hopefully put on a show for them.

“Hopefully they see a return in their investment of us by the product we put on the floor and how we uphold ourselves and represent ourselves and the club.

“And for the fans I hope they have a successful season and enjoy what they come to watch.”

The launch of a business-backed initiative this summer called the ‘W Club’ has seen the region’s corporate community give both financial and strategic support to the women’s team, which has further bolstered the hard-work done in the front office and locker room this summer, looking towards the new season.

Newcastle tip-off in their first warm-up game on the road at fierce rivals Caledonia Gladiators tomorrow, Sunday 14 September, before their opening game of the 2025/26 campaign at home next Sunday against Sheffield Hatters.

Fans can follow the pre-season action across the club’s social media channels and tickets for the season opener at the Vertu Arena are on sale now from the box office.