Hannah Robb’s career has spanned one of the most transformative periods in the history of Scottish basketball.
Ahead of the Caledonia Gladiators’ Super League Basketball Betty Codona Trophy Final defence against the B. Braun Sheffield Hatters on Sunday at Utilita Arena Birmingham, the Gladiators guard has reflected on that evolution and what it means for the future of the game.
Robb entered the league at a time when professionalism in the women’s game in Scotland was still in its infancy.
“When I first started playing in this league it was for Caledonia Pride and we were based out of Edinburgh University, using university facilities and funding,” she said. “There weren’t many pro teams in the league as such that were independent of universities, so to see where we are then to now is night and day.”
The contrast between those early experiences and the current environment at Caledonia is one that still resonates strongly with her.
“Back then we all crammed into minibuses, never stayed over the night before for games, and it was challenging, but now to see the kind of support that we have from the club, both logistically and to be playing in an arena like PlaySport, is beyond what our wildest dreams would’ve been back then.”
For Robb, that progress extends beyond first-team operations and into the development structure now being built beneath it.
“We’re also providing better pathways for our junior players,” she explained. “Seeing the experience Alix (McIntosh), Emma (Kerr) and Kerry (McGhee) are getting now and the growth that is being enabled for them by having this in place is so special and only going to benefit the game here in future.”
The importance of visible pathways was brought home to Robb in December, when her first club, the Tayside Musketeers, attended a Gladiators game at PlaySport.
“In our last game before Christmas my very first club – the Tayside Musketeers – came to PlaySport,” she said. “Paula Foster’s revived the club and they brought 82 kids down, which is incredible.”
The day carried particular meaning given Robb’s own journey into the sport.
“There was a sea of green in the stands constantly cheering the whole team on, but it was a nice full-circle moment too because when I was their age that opportunity to see basketball in an arena like ours and have that experience wasn’t there for me and other kids my age.”
She believes the professional environment now in place has fundamentally changed what young Scottish players can aspire to.
“If you can see it, you can be it,” Robb said. “With everything we have in place now to such a professional standard, kids can aspire to be us as opposed to before we didn’t have a pro team and somebody like me was finishing school before Caledonia Pride existed wondering ‘where do I go now?’ But now we have a clear pathway and we can show you don’t have to leave Scotland, you can stay home and be part of one of the best teams in the country.”
Robb was part of the Gladiators side that made history last season by lifting the Betty Codona Trophy, defeating Oaklands Wolves in the final.
“In the moment as the final buzzer goes, you do take in the significance of the win of course, with it being the first one for the club and the fact that result was a few years in the making for the team,” she said. “All of that dawns on you and it is really special.”
It was the reaction of those closest to her that gave the achievement its deepest meaning.
“When I took the time afterwards to reflect a bit more deeply with my family and thinking about how they reacted to it as well, it highlighted the significance even more for me personally,” Robb added. “They’ve been on that journey with me from 12 years old, so to see how much it meant to them meant a lot to me.”
As Caledonia prepare to return to Birmingham with the trophy on the line once again, Robb carries the collective weight of that journey with her.
“My journey hasn’t just been me,” she said. “It’s been my parents, my girlfriend, my friends, coaches, teammates from all over that have all played a small part, so when that final buzzer went for my win, it was their win as well, and everyone who’s contributed, and that feeling has stuck with me so I hope we can get it once again in this final.”