England secured gold in the Women’s 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball final after a commanding 18-10 victory over Scotland.
The final was decided by a fast start from England, who raced into a 6-0 lead inside the opening three minutes. Scotland fought back and reduced the deficit, but England maintained their advantage throughout to complete a memorable victory.
“We came in and said to ourselves: we are not going to lose today, and we didn’t,” said Jade Atkin after England’s triumph. “We came for gold, and we got it – so here we are.”
Atkin credited the team’s togetherness and belief for helping them deliver on the biggest stage.
“We all back each other and give each other so much confidence, which is such a good thing to have,” she added.
The victory also marked an important moment for wheelchair basketball, with the 3x3 format showcasing the sport alongside the able-bodied competition at the Commonwealth Games.
“It’s a great night for English and British basketball – being part of 3x3 is really good because it shows wheelchair basketball alongside able-bodied basketball,” Atkin said.
The England player hopes the exposure from Glasgow can inspire more people to discover the sport and understand what wheelchair basketball has to offer.
“It brings in a new fanbase and is really important to me – when I was a little girl I didn’t know what wheelchair basketball was, so it’s amazing to spread that awareness and get more people into the sport,” she added.
