Scotland Selects Basketball Talent for 2026 Commonwealth Games
Basketball talent has been unveiled for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, with four squads announced across running and wheelchair 3×3 formats. The selections signal strong ambitions for Scotland to secure its first-ever team sport medal on home soil at Glasgow 2026, featuring a total of 16 athletes.
Experienced Players Return for Men’s Running 3×3
Kyle Jimenez and Fraser Malcolm are set to compete in their third consecutive Commonwealth Games. Both athletes were instrumental in Scotland’s fourth-place finish in the men’s 3×3 running event at Birmingham 2022, where the team narrowly missed a bronze medal, losing to Canada by a single point. The pair also contributed to the Caledonia Gladiators’ victory in the 2023 British Basketball League Trophy.
Jimenez expressed his excitement about competing at home. “This will be my third Games, but we are all super excited that we are going to be on home soil with our friends and family there,” he stated. “My favourite thing is putting on my Scotland jersey and hearing the anthem before the game, so maybe winning a medal with friends and family there would be top level.”
Joining Jimenez and Malcolm are Skyler White, captain of Cheshire Phoenix, and Owen McCormack, captain of Bristol Flyers. McCormack was recently recognized as Super League Basketball’s Most Improved Player of the Year.
Women’s Running 3×3 Squad Features Returning Stars and Newcomers
On the women’s side, Claire Paxton and Hannah Robb are returning for their second Commonwealth Games. They have been key figures in the Great Britain 3×3 program since Birmingham 2022. Newcomers Kirsty Brown and Ella Doherty, who honed their skills in the U.S. collegiate system before returning, round out the team.
Paxton highlighted the growth of 3×3 basketball. “3×3 has grown massively since the last Games, so I think the competition is going to be harder,” she commented. “We want to represent ourselves well and enjoy the experience. The freedom of the game allows you just to go out there, be fearless and play hard. You never know what could happen.”
Wheelchair Basketball Teams Make Their Mark
Scotland’s men’s wheelchair basketball team will make their Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, having missed qualification for the Birmingham 2022 Games. The squad includes emerging talents Finlay Erskine and Shayne Humphries, both 20 years old. They are joined by Ross McConnell, 47, and Tyler Baines, who previously earned a bronze medal with England at Birmingham 2022.
Erskine described the significance of the opportunity. “It’s the highest level that we can play wheelchair basketball for Scotland, so this is really the top of the top for us,” he said. “It’s a really big step in my career, and it’s going to be amazing.”
The women’s wheelchair team will be led by Robyn Love, a world and European medallist who will also serve as coach. She will be joined by Jodie Waite, a fellow Paris 2024 Paralympian, along with Lea Smith and Kayli English, who secured a silver medal with the GB team at the 2025 European Championships.
Coaching Staff and Games Expansion
Mark Stevenson, head coach of Lothian Phoenix, will coach the men’s wheelchair team. Donnie MacDonald, who guided the women’s team at Birmingham 2022, will again lead the women’s running team. Gareth Murray, bringing his own Commonwealth Games experience, will coach the men’s running side.
Elinor Middlemiss MBE, chef de mission for Team Scotland, expressed enthusiasm for the selections. “After 3×3 debuting in Birmingham four years ago, it is great to see Scotland represented in both disciplines in the men’s and women’s competitions,” Middlemiss stated. “The atmosphere in the SEC should be electric, and I am sure our selected athletes are going to put on a great show and wear the jersey with pride and passion.”
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will feature expanded 3×3 basketball competitions, with eight teams per gender in the wheelchair category and twelve per gender in the running category.
