As a club, Caledonia Gladiators have broken down many barriers in recent years but, until this weekend, there was one significant gap in their list of achievements.

This was rectified in impressive style, with the women’s team making history with a nail-biting victory over Oakland Wolves in the Super League Basketball Trophy Finals to claim their first trophy in the history of the club.

The Scottish side travelled south to Birmingham’s Utilita Arena knowing they were underdogs against their English opponents, who are current Super League Championship league leaders. But Gladiators, who are currently in third place in the league and, since the turn of the year, have racked up three wins from three, prompting captain Erin McGarrachan to admit her side was quietly confident.

The two teams had already met twice this season, winning one each, with Oakland Wolves having got the better of Gladiators in their most recent meeting in November.

This match had extra significance given this is McGarrachan’s final season after a decade-long professional career and with the 32-year-old having never won a major trophy with Gladiators, this Trophy Final was one of her last opportunities to get her hands on silverware before she will, she has confirmed, retire later this year.

Gladiators starting line-up was Mathilde Domenger, Hannah Robb, Delaynie Bryan, Kat Tudor and Arianna Harris and the opening seconds of the game gave an insight into how much both teams were desperate to stamp their authority on early stages, with several fouls given away by both sides and the physicality of Gladiators and Wolves immediately on show.

Both teams missed chances to score in the opening 60 seconds but it was Oakland Wolves who grabbed the first basket, going 2-0 up before Caledonia Gladiators quickly responded and got on the scoreboard with a basket by Frenchwoman Domenger.

From there, Gladiators displayed their typical strong defensive play backed-up by attack, going ahead and stretching their lead to 19-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Gladiators continued their strong form, maintaining their lead through the second quarter, reaching half-time 31-25 up.

Robyn Lewis in action for Gladiators (Image: Super League Basketball) Oakland Wolves dragged themselves back into it and even sneaked ahead in the third quarter, taking a narrow 34-33 lead.

However, Gladiators quickly grabbed the lead back and from there, were able to stay ahead, finishing the third quarter 45-37 ahead.

In the fourth quarter, Gladiators stretched their lead to a seemingly insurmountable twelve points, going 49-37 up but Oakland Wolves refused to throw in the towel.

With the final buzzer fast approaching, the English side clawed themselves back to within touching distance of Gladiators, with Handy’s team just a point ahead with five minutes of the game to go.

The closing minutes were a nervy affair and with 30 seconds to go, Gladiators had a four point lead at 58-54.

Handy called a timeout with 22 seconds remaining but with less than fourteen seconds left, Oakland Wolves scored an impressive shot to make the score 59-58.

At this point, Gladiators were clinging on by the skin of their teeth but two points from a brace of free throws by Tea Adams gave the Scots breathing space one again.

With one-and-a-half seconds remaining, Wolves scored one free throw and after intentionally missing the second free throw, no Wolves player was able to score on the buzzer from the rebound, with the entire Gladiators player and management staff immediately erupting with the realisation they had won the final 61-59.

Domenger, the point guard who signed for the Scottish side last summer, was named MVP after a hugely impressive performance. The Frenchwoman scored 17 points making her the highest-scoring player of the game, and also made two rebounds and two assists.

(Image: Super League Basketball) Head coach Chantelle Handy, who is also a former player for Gladiators, was in little doubt as to how significant this result was for her club, as well as the sport in this country.

“This victory is an incredible moment not just for our club, but for basketball in Scotland,” Handy said.

“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.”

Gladiators captain, Erin McGarrachan, receives the trophy (Image: Super League Basketball) Gladiators’ Trophy Final victory was the first piece of silverware won by the women’s side and came two years after the men’s side won the BBL Trophy in 2023 in what was their first silverware in two decades.

For owner Steve Timoney, it’s just reward for the significant investment he’s put into the club and he too is hopeful of what this victory can do for both the cub and the sport in Scotland in the coming months and years.

“This trophy win is a real breakthrough moment for the women’s game here in Scotland” Timoney says.

“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.”

In the men’s final, Newcastle Eagles defeated Bristol Flyers 97-78.

Caledonia Gladiators women’s squad will have the opportunity to celebrate their victory in style, with their next Super League Championship game not until the 16th of February while the men’s team, who have had a hugely disrupted season with several changes of head coach, will host Surrey 89ers on Sunday.