More than 200 girls across the Northern Territory connected with some of Australia’s best female basketballers as She Hoops brought clinics, school visits and leadership activities to communities from Maningrida to Tennant Creek and beyond.
Delivered in partnership with Basketball NT and supported by the Australian Government, Jayco, Kulbardi and Tissot, the tour saw Australian Opals Ally Wilson and Zitina Aokuso and WNBL player Gemma Potter travel more than 40 hours by road and air in less than a week to reach Maningrida, Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.
Across each stop, the athletes got on court, shared their experiences and, most importantly, spent time getting to know the girls and communities they visited.
The visits to remote communities including Maningrida and Tennant Creek were particularly special, where opportunities to spend time with elite female athletes are rare.
Regional Sports Coordinator for the Barkly Region, Irena Edwards-Kelly said the Tennant Creek visit gave local children an experience they don't often have.
“Our kids in the bush don't often get the same opportunities as kids in the cities. Having the players here, spending time with them and playing basketball with them meant a lot. The girls felt comfortable with them straight away and they now have new role models they can look up to.”
For Wilson, Aokuso and Potter, the opportunity to give back and spend time in the community is something they genuinely value. They embraced every stop, getting involved with the girls, having fun on court and building connections with communities they may not otherwise have the opportunity to visit.
The tour continues She Hoops’ ongoing partnership with Basketball NT and their shared commitment to creating greater access and opportunities for women and girls in basketball across the Territory.
