GEORGIA GAYLE is ready to write her own story at her debut Commonwealth Games.

So often referred to as Betty Codona’s granddaughter due to her grandma’s huge impact on basketball in Britain, Sheffield’s Gayle is making family history at Glasgow 2026 having been selected to represent Team England in only the second-ever staging of 3x3 basketball at the Commonwealth Games.

“Now I'm getting older, I'm starting to find my feet with that,” said Gayle. “Every interview is ‘oh, you're Betty's granddaughter’.

“Of course, I enjoy speaking about her but now I'm getting older it is important for me to write my story and figure out what my legacy will be. She was an extraordinary lady and I'm definitely proud to be her granddaughter. She was a pioneer in the game.

AIMING HIGH: Sheffield's Georgia Gayle. Picture courtesy of Adam Bates.

placeholder image — AIMING HIGH: Sheffield's Georgia Gayle. Picture courtesy of Adam Bates.

“She actually played in seven and seven is my number. My nan played in it, my mum did and now I do.

“It's just nice to be able to carry on her legacy, not necessarily the footsteps, she did way too much for me to do but it's nice to follow after her.”

The former Sheffield Hatters guard only picked up 3x3, a quicker, more physical version of traditional basketball, in the past year. Gayle joins returning medallists Shanice Beckford-Norton and Cheridene Green, and fellow debutant Katie Januszewska as part of the women’s roster.

“Last year, I started playing three-on-three and we did the women's series, so we travelled with that and did Europe Cup,” she said.

“I really enjoy three-on-three, I'd love to transition into it full-time if possible, but it's just not there yet in the women's game.

“As soon as I heard it was going to be at the Commonwealth Games and there was a chance I could be part of it, of course I wanted to be there.

“It's a smaller roster, so it's even harder to make the team. It is really important I go out and play hard. Shanice will not come home until we get a gold and we're all on the same page with that.”

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