Handy’s return strengthens 13-player Training camp roster for women’s EuroBasket qualifiers
Chema Buceta, head coach for the GB Women’s Basketball team, has announced his training camp 13-player roster for the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025 qualifying games against Sweden and Estonia later this month. Included in the squad is Chantelle Handy who previously retired from international basketball but has returned at Buceta’s behest.
With 140 caps to her name, Handy is hugely experienced and made herself available after several players were ruled out with injury. Handy said: “I received a call from Chema asking for some support as unfortunately a few players are not able to play due to injury.
“He knows how much this programme means to me and knows I’ll always support them in any way I can. If that means coming back in to help, that’s what I’ll do.”
The team, which will once again be captained by Temi Fagbenle, face Sweden in a home game on 9 November at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester and will then face Estonia in Tallinn just three days later on 12 November.
Tickets for the home game are available now and the squad is hoping that British basketball fans will fill the stands and show their support.
Buceta is looking forward to the games and is pleased that the campaign begins at home: “My feeling is positive because I see a very positive attitude from the players who will be in the team and they are capable of succeeding. I think that we are going to have a very good window.”
Great Britain 13-player training camp roster – Women’s EuroBasket 2025
| NAME | POSITION | AGE | HEIGHT | CLUB |
| Sam Ashby | Guard | 22 | 5’8” | Leicester Riders (GBR) |
| Kirsty Brown | Centre | 24 | 6’3” | Caledonia Gladiators (GBR) |
| Temi Fagbenle | Forward | 31 | 6’4” | London Lions (GBR) |
| Georgia Gayle | Guard | 26 | 5’7” | Sheffield Hatters (GBR) |
| Chantelle Handy | Forward | 36 | 6’2” | Caledonia Gladiators (GBR) |
| Shequila Joseph | Forward | 28 | 6’1″ | Panathlitikos (GRE) |
| Kennedy Leonard* | Guard | 27 | 5’7” | Currently unattached |
| Abby Lowe | Guard | 25 | 5’9” | Newcastle Eagles (GBR) |
| Erin McGarrachan | Forward | 31 | 6’0″ | Caledonia Gladiators (GBR) |
| Hannah Robb | Guard | 25 | 5’7” | Caledonia Gladiators (GBR) |
| Harriet Swindells | Guard | 24 | 5’5” | Eintracht Braunschweig Lion Pride (GER) |
| Savannah Wilkinson | Forward | 24 | 6’1” | London Lions (GBR) |
| Holly Winterburn | Guard | 23 | 5’10” | London Lions (GBR) |
*Naturalised player
Vanessa Ellis will once again be on assistant coach duties, along with Stef Collins. Susana Garcia will be the performance analyst for the team.
Tickets for the home game against Sweden on 9 November cost just £12 for adults and £8 for children and concession tickets are available for £10. A small booking fee will also be added to the price of each ticket. Tickets can be purchased here now.
Full details of the coaching and performance staff are included below.
Coaching Staff
Chema Buceta – Head Coach
Vanessa Ellis – Assistant Coach
Stef Collins – Assistant Coach
Susana Garcia – Performance Analyst
Performance Staff
Mark Lloyd – General Manager
Peter Thain – Head of Sports Science & Medicine
Dr Linda Evans – Team Doctor
Ross Knevett – Sports Therapist
Paula Charity – Team Manager
Lauren Newham – Media Officer