The Growing Landscape of Women’s Basketball

Current Landscape Globally and Locally

Women's basketball has steadily gained recognition across the globe and the talent has been on full display throughout the Olympics. Although the Americans continued with their ridiculous winning streak since 1992, international hoopers are gaining ground. The training, sponsorships, and funding that's going into women's basketball is helping it grow, especially here in the GTA. With the emergence of initiatives like HoopQueens and Toronto becoming the 14th franchise in the WNBA, the game is moving in the right direction.

Challenges Female Athletes Face

As an athlete competing at a high level, there’s various challenges you’ll face. While every athlete’s journey is unique, one common challenge I’ve heard specific to females is pursuing a career in a sport that may not provide the finances to support the lifestyle they desire. It can be difficult to pursue your passion knowing financial reward is limited. However, I believe we’re headed in the right direction where female basketball is gaining more interest and the resources being poured into it is growing which should lead to positive changes in the foreseen future.

Attracting More Females in a Male Dominant Sport 

More females will gravitate to basketball with more exposure and opportunities to learn and play the game. Basketball is a joyful game but is difficult to pick up on your own because of the variety of skills and techniques needed to play it effectively. That’s why programs like 3Crown Foundation are important - where they can learn the game in a fun environment with other female hoopers. 

Additionally, bringing young girls to basketball games is another way to grow interest and inspiration. Allowing them to watch and connect with college players or professionals will help them see a bigger vision of what they can be and understand what can be achieved with dedication and consistent effort.

Women’s Basketball in the Next 5 Years

Women’s basketball is set to continue to grow and evolve. It’s hard to envision where we’ll be in the next few years, but the future of the game is full of potential and I look forward to seeing what heights the game reaches. I don’t think anyone in 2019 could have anticipated where the game is today, but it’s exciting to think about how far we’ve come. The number of girls joining our basketball program has continued to increase so we’ll definitely have a new generation of talented female athletes competing in the city at a high level.