After four years State-side, it’s unsurprising that Ella Doherty has picked up an American twang.
But despite the ribbing she’s receiving from her family about developing something of an American accent during her time in the US, Doherty couldn’t be happier to be back home in Scotland as she prepared to continue her basketball career on home soil.
The 22-year-old from Kinross-shire began her basketball career at Perth Pheonix and Caledonia Pride but it was her four years in America, with CSU Monterey Bay and the University of Toledo, which saw her really hone her craft.
Her successful stint in America earned her a contract with Scotland’s sole professional basketball club, Caledonia Gladiators, and although Doherty had the time of her life across the pond, she’s thrilled to be back on home soil.
“I really enjoyed my time in America - I met some great people, was given some great opportunities and just had a great time. Being in America gave me the chance to see a different side of basketball - they're crazy about it, so it was cool to see that and be a part of it,” she says.
“During my time in America, I definitely improved as both a player and as a person. I really grew as a person an the level of basketball is so high that I definitely became a better basketball player the I was there.”
Doherty may have been thousands of miles away for the past four years but she made sure she kept track of basketball in her home country and specifically, the formation and then progression of Gladiators.
The club’s journey has been remarkable; from Gladiators being Scotland’s first-ever professional women’s team to becoming one of the very best sides in Britain to playing in Europe to winning the women’s team’s first-ever trophy earlier this year with victory in the Trophy Finals, Doherty admits she couldn’t quite believe what she was witnessing from afar.
“I definitely kept up with what was happening with Gladiators and I could hardly believe things were happening so quickly for the club,” she says.
“When I was growing up, I would have thought you were crazy if you’d said something like this would exist in Scotland. So it's really cool to be back in my home country and playing for a club like this.
“Things have changed completely since I left. When I went to America, there weren't many options in Scotland for girls to play basketball, but now it's completely different.
“And having kept track of Gladiators’ results, and I knew this was definitely something I wanted to be a part of.”
Doherty’s hopes to become involved with East Kilbride-based Gladiators came true when she signed earlier this summer and after several weeks of pre-season training, Doherty and her team mates are preparing for their first home game of the season, with Caledonia Gladiators hosting Nottingham Wildcats in the Women’s Superleague Basketball campaign today.
Doherty will have a pivotal role within the squad over the coming months and the 5’11” guard is confident she can add an extra dimension to the squad as the team strives for further silverware.
And given the team’s recent record - as well as their Trophy Finals victory, the Scottish side has finished second in the league twice in the past three seasons - it’s unsurprising there’s high expectations on the players’ shoulders heading into the new SLB season. But while Doherty admits there’s an air of confidence amongst the squad, she’s also quick to point out they’re well aware that every season begins with a clean slate.
“I like to play fast and aggressive, and I'm hoping that I can bring some more versatility to the team,” she says.
“There's a really good atmosphere around the club and in practice, we're all very focused and very intense.
“The women’s side winning its first trophy last season was a big deal but we'd never want to go into this season feeling cocky or complacent, because every year is a new year. But it does give us that belief that we have the ability to win trophies.
“We know that it'll be very hard to win a trophy again this season but every competition we go into, we want to be as successful as possible.
