Chloe Gaynor Steps Away from Playing to Focus on Newcastle Eagles Coaching Role

Chloe Gaynor has stepped away from her playing career to focus fully on leading Newcastle Eagles’ Super League Basketball Women’s side as head coach.

The decision comes ahead of the 2026/27 season and formalises Gaynor’s move from player-coach to a full-time coaching focus on the sidelines.

Gaynor first joined the Eagles in 2021 after her rookie season with Nottingham Wildcats and three years at Long Beach State University. She became an important frontcourt figure for the club, including during Newcastle’s historic 2023/24 play-off run.

After Matt Newby left the Eagles in November 2024, Gaynor was asked to take over the women’s team. She quickly made an impact and was later voted SLB Coach of the Year in her rookie coaching season.

Newcastle said the decision follows knee issues that began during Gaynor’s college career and have caused further problems in recent seasons.

For the Eagles, the move gives clarity before the new campaign. Gaynor can now put her full attention into coaching, roster development and building on the progress made since she took charge.

It is also another notable development in the SLB Women coaching landscape, with one of the league’s recent player-coach stories now moving fully into the next stage of her career.

Source: Newcastle Eagles.