Newcastle Eagles Women get their 2026/27 Super League Basketball (SLB) Championship season underway on Sunday, when head coach Chloe Gaynor’s new-look roster heads to Leicester to take on the Riders at Loughborough College.
It’s a tough opener for Gaynor’s side, but with plenty of practice sessions under their belts and two positive pre-season fixtures, albeit defeats to Caledonia and Sheffield, they travel in anticipation.
“Everyone looks forward to that first game of the season. You have preseason you practice you get the players together and you’re working towards that first tip-off,” said Gaynor.
“Pre-season games are good and they prep you but there’s nothing like knowing that the ball is going up in the air and knowing you really are fighting for something real.
“The girls are looking forward to it my staff and I are looking forward to it and hopefully we get off to a good start,”
This is a new group for Gaynor although she has retained a few from last season it is a very different set of players that will cross the sidelines for their first competitive encounter.
The Eagles women play caller, continued: “We’ve got a really new group. It has been good to return Grace, Nat, and Alex because they bring what we’ve been working on for the last couple of seasons.
“So, it’s good to have them return. Alex has done a great job of leading the team as captain in the first few weeks.
“The new guys getting in getting stuck in and getting on board is positive to see. We’ve seen some positive signs which is always good to see ready to start the season. The nature of how we play is chaotic so it’s good to see that they are finding solutions within that.
“That’s bright that we want to see that the solutions nice and early so we can develop on that. So yes, they are settling in well. So, I think overall it’s been a positive preseason and it’s an exciting group to get to work with.”
Last season the Eagles made the SLB Play-Offs after a mid-table finish that fans will be hoping they can better this season after the programme’s continues to make a name for itself in British basketball.
“The aim is just to be as good as we can possibly be. Whatever our potential can be and wherever that leads us in the table,” Gaynor added.
“Ultimately at the end of the day, we want to be fighting for silverware. I would love nothing more on a personal note to bring silverware to this club.
“As a coach, I’d love to get there and ultimately as a club we have professional aspirations about where we want to get too and that comes with winning. I’ve told all the girls I want to win games. Winning is ideal bur part of that is reaching our true potential.”
Following the cancelation of their home pre-season clash for fans to see the new team in action at the Vertu Arena, next Sunday will be the first time the 2026/26 Eagles women will step-out on their home floor.
Before their opening home tip-off, Leicester are the first obstacle Gaynor’s flock have to deal with, but it seems they are primed and ready to fly.
“You never know too much about teams at the start of the season. Leicester have returned their younger quote we know a little bit about that. But you never know what the identity of a new team is going to be,” Gaynor concluded.
“We’ve done our scout; we know our individuals. The girls have had their homework about that this last week. We know them well individually but with the newbies coming in you never know what they’re going to be like in their new system.
“The girls are going to have to go on the fly on Sunday adjust and be adaptable which is something we’ve spoken about. Hopefully, it’s within our identity.”
Tip-off in Leicester is at 19:00 as the Eagles look to get off to a flying start. Fans can watch live on the Women’s SLB YouTube channel.
