FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 Legacy Program Supports Indigenous Basketballers

GOLD COAST (Australia) – The FIBA Women’s World Cup Australia 2022 legacy lives on in 2023 and beyond with the recent indigenous female leadership program and partnership announcement with Basketball Australia and the Aboriginal Basketball Academy.

A strategic priority within FIBA,   Women in Basketball with the FIBA Women’s World Cup Australia 2022 Legacy Program, She Hoops directly facilitates providing opportunities for women to be involved in basketball, on and off the court.

Developed to provide an inclusive and safe environment to empower women in basketball throughout the community, She Hoops is the supporting pillar of the Basketball Australia (BA) and Aboriginal Basketball Academy (ABA) partnership.

Launched in Adelaide, Australia, the partnership will aim to close the gender gap and ensure all girls have access to facilities and resources to assist them to realize and reach their potential. 

Head of Women in Basketball at BA, Lauren Jackson AO OLY, was on hand to guide the students through on-court drills and a leadership session.

“This is so exciting for She Hoops and the ABA as together we can provide incredible programs to these girls to ensure they have a pathway that incorporates education and basketball,” Jackson said.

“The ABA has a fantastic program, and we are delighted to add value through our resources and financial support. We always say that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’, so having the opportunity to come out into the community and showcase what I’ve learned and help these young athletes is an absolute privilege.”

 Olympian and World Cup Opal, Annie La Fleur OLY, joined Jackson on-court to deliver a session to the girls and was full of praise for the initiative.

“She Hoops is such an important program to ensure that these young people have access to the facilities and resources to help them become great leaders and advocates of their heritage,” La Fleur said.

“It’s exciting that two youth leaders from the ABA will, as part of the She Hoops Indigenous program, have the opportunity to participate in FIBA’s Youth Leaders Workshop in September in Auckland.”

This program further recognizes and supports indigenous basketball development in Australia following the initial FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 logo design by fourteen-year-old Aboriginal basketballer Armarlie ‘Marlii’ Biscoe.  Revenue from the sales of the jerseys featuring Marlii’s design were given back to the community through the Women’s World Cup Legacy Program with support from Campfire X.