A new partnership between Basketball Australia, Basketball Northern Territory (BNT), Alice Springs Basketball Association (ASBA) and Circle Up will provide a new, regular competition dedicated for girls to play basketball in Alice Springs.
A She Hoops visit to Alice Springs in July, delivered through the Australian Government’s Play Our Way program, provided an opportunity to engage with the local basketball community and better understand the barriers and opportunities influencing girls’ participation.
“At the heart of She Hoops is a commitment to connecting with communities across Australia and creating meaningful opportunities for more women and girls to experience basketball,” said Nikita Vogel, Head of Women in Basketball at Basketball Australia.
“Claire and the Alice Springs Basketball Association have already laid strong foundations through their commitment to growing the game locally. By working alongside Circle Up, ASBA and Basketball Northern Territory, we can build on that incredible work, strengthen local pathways and create more opportunities for girls to play, connect and feel a sense of belonging through basketball.”
The game was already taking flight in the heart of Australia with regular development sessions led by Claire Bracey and Circle Up, but one gap was clear: Alice Springs did not have a dedicated girls basketball competition.
Connection with the Alice Springs community and Bracey led to the creation of a new regular competition to further the growth of the game.
“It has been a long and challenging road to get to this point, but the determination and resilience shown by these girls is truly inspiring,” says Claire Bracey, Alice Springs Basketball.
“They have been the drivers of this journey, and we are incredibly proud of them. This partnership will not only influence the trajectory of the girls’ lives, but also the lives of generations to come. Its impact will be felt far beyond the basketball court.”
The partners will co-invest in a six-week girls competition in Term 4 2026, designed as the first step towards establishing an ongoing girls competition in Alice Springs.
ALICE SPRINGS COMPETITION
The initial competition will support up to four teams playing on Tuesday evenings, alongside Circle Up’s existing Wednesday development sessions.
Together, the two touchpoints will provide a more connected pathway for girls: an opportunity to develop their skills and confidence, and a dedicated competition in which to put those skills into practice.
To help establish the competition and build capacity for its future growth, Basketball Australia, through She Hoops and Play Our Way, will provide uniforms, basketballs, coaching and officiating equipment as well as merchandise, branding and operational support.
BNT is also reducing the cost of entry through a $25 three-month registration fee, helping make the pilot more accessible for local families.
The partnership is deliberately building capability beyond player participation. ASBA and Circle Up have already supported girls to undertake referee education, and the new competition will create practical opportunities for emerging referees and coaches to develop alongside the players.
BUILT FOR 2027 AND BEYOND
The six-week competition is a starting point. Through the pilot, the partners hope to increase participation, develop the local coaching and officiating workforce and learn more about the possibilities and barriers that exist to sustain an ongoing competition.
The project demonstrates the broader impact of Play Our Way investment and the opportunities that arrive from She Hoops commitment to regional and remote engagement.
By bringing together local leadership, association capability, state support and national investment, the partnership is working to create something that can continue beyond the initial funding period.
The long-term goal is for girls in Alice Springs to have more than an opportunity to try basketball. It is to ensure they have a place to develop, a competition to play in and a pathway to stay involved in the game.
