The Caledonia Gladiators’ offseason checklist will determine if they can cement their place as championship contenders.

Next up on the list is the Caledonia Gladiators. With Donnie MacDonald at the helm, the club will have only one vision for this roster — and that is lifting silverware. But what must the Gladiators do in the offseason to make this dream a reality?

Players must buy in to Donnie MacDonald’s blueprint

A change in coaching is always going to require patience and a transitional period — fortunately, the Super League Basketball Women (SLBW) season schedule provides that time.

Donnie MacDonald is an experienced coach who possesses a wealth of knowledge surrounding the women’s game — and the Caledonia Gladiators themselves — but players buying into what he is selling is another matter entirely.

I have no reason to believe MacDonald will have any issues in this area. Any information provided online about his body of work only provides glowing references of his coaching ability and his attitude towards the game.

However, adapting to a new style of play or even small tweaks in a tactical blueprint can sometimes be a struggle for players, and if this team wants to put themselves into trophy contention, they cannot afford to deviate from what MacDonald is trying to instill.

Provide offensive support for Tierra Hodges

Tierra Hodges one of the leading lights for the Caledonia Gladiators. Under the basket, few defenders in the league can contain her production.

Hodges’ biggest issue is that the defenders that do pose her problems are the teams that will inevitably be competing for all four trophies — most notably, the Sheffield Hatters.

As we witnessed in the SLBW Playoff Final, Megan Mullings and Antoinette Lewis were happy to get physical with the forward and force her into spots in which she could not cause overwhelming damage.

If the Caledonia Gladiators want to make the next step, acquiring a frontcourt option who records similar numbers to Hodges — while also stretching the floor — would give Hodges room to breathe in the bigger matchups.

While Anastasia Warren is an electric guard who is another player who will stand at the top of opponents’ scouting reports, she is at her devastating best outside of the arc. This is a fantastic option for Caledonia to have, but if we are highlighting how to get the best out of Hodges, it is the frontcourt that the team must bolster.