Chantelle Handy set for Another Year as Player-Coach

Following a successful debut campaign in the role, Caledonia Gladiators are pleased to announce that Chantelle Handy will continue her tenure with the club in the player-assistant coach role for the 2023/24 WBBL season.

Prior to joining the Gladiators last summer, Handy’s career saw her play all over Europe. Most recently, in the 21/22 season, she suited up for TTT Riga in the EuroLeague and Latvian WBBL. She has also proved herself as one of the best British players, competing in the top divisions of Spain, Turkey, Poland, France and Greece amongst others.

The 6’2″ forward, originally reining from Durham, England, provides a huge leadership role to the side, and assisted the younger players of last season’s squad both on and off the court. Statistically, she contributed massively too, averaging 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, playing in all 22 WBBL Championship fixtures.

Chan has played internationally throughout her career, first making appearances for GB during her time studying at Marshall University in the US. Since, she put on the GB jersey 140 times, including representing the nation at London 2012 Olympics, before retiring after qualifying for EuroBasket 2023. Last summer, she represented England in 3×3 basketball at Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games, winning a silver medal in the competition.

Now, internationally, Handy is set to make a step forward on the coaching side of things, taking to the sidelines to lead GB’s U20 women in this summer’s European Championships. in Romania. The squad head to Craiova at the end of the month.

Looking forward to her next year with the Gladiators, Chantelle Handy said: “I’m excited to be back. We’re building a good roster and I can’t wait for everyone to arrive in early August. We had a really successful season last year, so we’re looking to maintain that and improve as we go, taking this season step by step.”

Chan becomes the latest of Gladiators’ core leadership trio to re-sign, with GB internationals Erin McGarrachan and Robyn Lewis penning new deals respectively last week.