A full house saw the brightest young talent from the domestic game in action during a women’s under-19 and a men’s under-19 game on Sunday.

Players are invited to take part in the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic based on their performances during the previous season and it has become a highly anticipated annual event in the domestic basketball calendar.

In the women’s under-19 game, Team White produced a dominant first half display on their way to recording a 91-53 victory over Team Black, inspired by the incredibly talented Fatmata Janneh, who was named MVP.

Janneh registered an impressive 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Her MVP award rounds off a fantastic season for Janneh, who can play either guard of forward; she was also named on the WEABL 2023/23 Southern Conference team of the year, averaging 19.8 points per game and 10 rebounds per game throughout the season, and signed a letter of intent with US Division One college Saint Peter’s in New Jersey.

Ebere Egbirika was another standout candidate at the Classic, with a game-high of 26 points, while Abbey Whitehouse also added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Team Black were led by Faye Endean’s 15 points.

The talented young players will now hope to follow in the footsteps of the many previous Hoospifx All-Star Classic players who have gone on to enjoy successful basketball careers – including London Lions’ Holly Winterburn, who is one of the most exciting players in the WBBL.

The Hoopsfix All-Star Classic was also raising money for the Hoopsfix Foundation, a charity which helps grow the game across the UK – encouraging young people to play basketball and refurbishing and improving community courts in towns and cities.

Sam Neter, who organises the Classic, said: “Once again we saw some amazing basketball from some incredibly talented young players, played in front of a packed stadium.

“The Hoopsfix All-Star Classic has become a real celebration of basketball in the UK and seeing the skills and passion of this next generation of stars I know the game is in safe hands.”

For more information on the Hoopsfix Foundation, visit: www.hoopsfixfoundation.org.

With thanks to Hoopsfix Foundation via New Reach PR

The annual event was first held in 2014 and has developed a reputation as being the premier showcase of up-and-coming British basketball talent.

This year’s Hoopsfix All-Star Classic takes place at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Sunday and tickets have sold out – with a capacity 1,500 crowd expected.

Proceeds from ticket sales help fund the work being done by the Hoopsfix Foundation, a charity which helps grow the game across the UK – encouraging young people to play basketball and refurbishing and improving community courts in towns and cities.

Players are invited to take part in the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic based on their performances during the previous season and it has become a highly anticipated annual event in the domestic basketball calendar – attended by fans, current BBL and WBBL stars, and elite scouts.

And among those who have previously taken part are Jeremy Sochan, who is now starring in the NBA for the San Antonio Stars, London Lions’ Holly Winterburn, who is one of the most exciting players in the WBBL, and Tosan Evbuomwan and Quinn Ellis, both of whom have declared for this year’s NBA draft.

Fans will be treated to two exhibition games on Sunday – an under-19 men’s game and an under-19 women’s game – as well as a dunk contest and a three-point competition.

Players from across the country will be well-represented for both the men’s and women’s teams. From London, players from City of London Academy, Barking Abbey, London Elite, Haringey Hawks and New City will all play in the classic.

Further across the south, players from the Solent Kestrels, Milton Keynes Breakers, Canterbury High School, SGS College, Holy Trinity School, Oakland Wolves and Sevenoaks Suns will also take part.

Other players from East England who play for Copleston Basketball Academy while in the Midlands, players from the Nottingham Wildcats and Leicester Riders will also make appearances. Up in Sheffield, players from Sheffield Elite and Sheffield Hatters will both take part and from Loughborough, two players from Charnwood Academy will also feature.

Wales’s Issy Bunyan will be playing in the Classic as well as three players from the US, Jessica Bakhsh, Marcus-Myen King-Danchie and Tyrese Lacey.

A number of the players confirmed as taking part have already been picked up by colleges in the US, or BBL teams here in England and organiser Sam Neter says fans should be excited at the prospect of watching some of the hottest talents in the UK game.

He said: “The Hoopsfix All-Star Classic is a chance for basketball fans to watch 48 incredibly talented young players and a real celebration of UK basketball, its culture, and the amazing community which has grown around the domestic game.

“It is also a great opportunity to help raise money for the Hoopsfix Foundation so it can continue to raise the profile of this wonderful sport and provide more opportunities to young people playing the game.”

For more information on the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic, and the Hoopsfix Foundation, visit: www.hoopsfixallstarclassic.com.

With thanks to New Reach PR

Ballers, your time is now: Red Bull Half Court is back and looking for you and your teammates to hoop it out on 11 June in Finsbury Park, home to the UK National Final.

Both male and female teams will battle it out over an intense 3 on 3 format to find the UK winners, with the national champions then going on to represent the UK at the World Finals in Egypt at the end of September 2022.

Red Bull Half Court serves up a unique tournament mode to crown the world’s best male and female streetballers. With an open series format and expected participants from more than 27 nations in 2022, it’s also the most global streetball tournament on the planet.

Streetball icon Dušan Bulut, who led Team Serbia to the championship at the 2021 World Final, says, “What I like most about Red Bull Half Court is that it’s authentic to the streets, and it’s not just about basketball. The atmosphere is unbelievable. I’ve traveled all around the world and I play everywhere, but this is the essence of the sport: the street courts and streetball.”

True to authentic streetball culture, the tournament is alive with music, art, entertainment and fashion. In 2021, 11 courts in seven countries were renovated and transformed by street artists, all in coordination with the communities. More courts will be renewed this year, and when the tournament is over, the revitalized playgrounds remain for locals to enjoy.

Bulut says, “It’s a special feeling, a special environment. I like that legacy of rebuilding courts in local communities that will be there long after my career is finished.”

Get your game on. Sign up now and lead your team to the World Final: https://participate.redbull.com/en/events/red-bull-half-court-gbr/2022?version=B

With thanks to Red Bull via Pitch

— “The W25” Will Be Unveiled Sunday, Sept. 5; the GOAT to Be Announced Tuesday, Oct. 12 —

As the WNBA continues to commemorate its landmark 25th season, the league today announced plans for the selection of “The W25” and the first ever launch of the “Vote for the GOAT” program. Many WNBA players have been deemed the greatest of all time (GOAT) over the last 25 years, but fans will vote for their GOAT by calling out their pick with the hashtag #WNBAGoatVote on Twitter, on WNBA.com or on the WNBA App.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the greatest names in women’s professional basketball as part of our continuing celebration of the WNBA’s 25th season,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Throughout the 2021 season, we are celebrating a quarter of a century of the impact the WNBA has made on sports and society, and on generations of young and diverse athletes. As we prepare for the first ever Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game and the resumption of our regular season schedule in mid-August, we are pleased to announce “The W25” platform and the “Vote for the GOAT” program.”

As announced in March, the “The W25” platform will consist of the selection and honoring of the WNBA’s 25 greatest and most influential players since its inception in 1997.  These game-changing athletes will be selected based on their overall contribution to the league and community.

A new, additional element of “The W25” platform will provide fans the opportunity to vote for the greatest WNBA player of all time through the “Vote for the GOAT” program.

The W25 – The Details

The selection of the league’s 25 greatest and most influential players will begin with a list of nearly 75 nominees selected based on factors such as on-court performance and ability, leadership, sportsmanship and community service, and contributions to team success and the overall growth of women’s basketball.

A select panel composed of media members and women’s basketball pioneers and advocates will then cast the votes that will determine “The W25,” which will be unveiled on Sunday, Sept. 5, during the ABC broadcast of the Las Vegas Aces at Chicago Sky game (3 p.m. ET).

The nominees must have been a member of a WNBA team for at least two seasons and met four of the following seven criteria: been the winner of a major individual award; a selection to either the All-WNBA First Team or All-WNBA Second Team; a selection to either the WNBA All-Defensive First Team or WNBA All-Defensive Second Team; a selection to the WNBA All-Star Game; a member of a WNBA Championship team; a current ranking among the top 40 career leaders in at least one major statistical category; and/or a recipient of the WNBA’s season-long Community Assist Award.

The GOAT Details

Beginning on Sept. 5 immediately following the announcement of “The W25,” fans will have an opportunity to vote for the member of that esteemed group that they believe is the greatest WNBA player of all time through the “Vote for the GOAT.” program. Fan voting will conclude at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 19. The GOAT will then be unveiled on during the WNBA Finals 2021 presented by YouTube TV.

How fans can vote starting Sept 5 following the W25 announcement:

• WNBA.com voting page at wnba.com/goatvote: Fans can fill out one ballot per day (per day is defined as once every 24 hours) on WNBA.com/goatvote from a desktop or mobile browser.
• WNBA App: Fans can access the ballot through both the “Latest” and “More” tabs on the WNBA App, which is available on Android and iOS. Fans can fill out one ballot per day.
• Twitter: Fans can tweet in their votes for their favorite player with the below criteria:
  • An eligible vote consists of:
    • • The campaign hashtag (e.g.: ##WNBAGoatVote) with the player name with or without a space (e.g.: Jane Doe or JaneDoe) or
      • The player Twitter handle (e.g. @WNBAplayerJaneDoe)
  • Example of a Valid Vote: I just voted Jane Doe for the ##WNBAGoatVote or I just voted for @JaneDoeWNBAPlayer for the ##WNBAGoatVote
  • Retweets will count as a valid vote

Courtesy of the WNBA via Pitch

Below are facts and figures about WNBA All-Star 2021:

WNBA All-Star Game

Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

· 1 – No. 1 all-time leaders for points (Diana Taurasi – pictured above), assists (Sue Bird) and rebounds (Sylvia Fowles) will be playing in the WNBA All-Star Game.
· 2 – Las Vegas will host WNBA All-Star for the second time, having previously done so in 2019 when the game was last played.
· 3 – Three international players will be competing in this year’s event: Liz Cambage (Australia), Jonquel Jones (Bahamas) and Satou Sabally (Germany).
· 4 – The Las Vegas Aces have the most All-Star selections with four, followed by four teams with three players each (Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm).
· 7 – Out of the 24 All-Stars, seven players have competed in the WNBA for more than a decade: Sue Bird (18th season), Diana Taurasi (17th), Sylvia Fowles (14th), Candace Parker (14th), DeWanna Bonner (12th), Tina Charles (11th) and Courtney Vandersloot (11th).
· 8 – This year will feature eight first-time All-Stars: Ariel Atkins, Kahleah Copper, Dearica Hamby, Brionna Jones, Betnijah Laney, Arike Ogunbowale, Satou Sabally and Courtney Williams.
· 12 – Sue Bird has been selected to a WNBA-record 12 All-Star teams.
· 17 – Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Lisa Leslie (8) and Tina Thompson (9), who will serve as co-head coaches for the WNBA All-Stars, combined for 17 All-Star selections during their playing careers.
· 1999 – The first WNBA All-Star Game was held in 1999 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, where All-Star MVP Lisa Leslie led the West past the East 79-61.

Sylvia Fowles #34 of the Minnesota Lynx  (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

USA Women’s National Basketball Team
· 5 – Bird and Taurasi will be competing in their fifth Olympics, tying WNBA legend Teresa Edwards for the most appearances on the USA Women’s National Team roster. The USA Women’s National Team will also be composed of players from five WNBA teams (three each from Phoenix and Seattle and two each from Las Vegas, Minnesota and Washington).
· 6 – Six WNBA players will be competing for the USA Women’s National Team in the Olympics for the first time: Ariel Atkins, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd and A’ja Wilson.
· 7 – Ariel Atkins will be the only player on the USA Women’s National Team to wear the same uniform number – No. 7 – in the WNBA and the Olympics.
· 15 – WNBA All-Stars competing on the USA Women’s National Team have combined to collect 15 Olympic gold medals during their playing careers: Sue Bird (4), Tina Charles (2), Sylvia Fowles (3), Brittney Griner (1), Breanna Stewart (1) and Diana Taurasi (4).

1996 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team
· 1996 – The WNBA will honor the gold-medal-winning 1996 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team with a special presentation during the game highlighting the impact the team had on women’s sports and the role it played in launching the WNBA.
· 6 – The 1996 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team, which will be honored at this year’s event, features six players who were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Teresa Edwards (2011), Sheryl Swoopes (2016), Katrina McClain (2012), Dawn Staley (2013), Rebecca Lobo (2017) and Lisa Leslie (2015).

WNBA All-Star on ESPN
· 7 – ESPN play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco and analyst Rebecca Loco will call their seventh WNBA All-Star Game together.
· 10 – ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe will be covering her 10th WNBA All-Star Game.
· 15 – ESPN will use 15 cameras, microphones on players, and from-the-bench, in-game interviews throughout its telecast.
· 17 – This year marks the 17th time that ESPN networks will present the WNBA All-Star Game.

MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest
· 2 – Chicago Sky guard Allie Quigley, a two-time winner of the WNBA MTN DEW 3-Point Contest, is seeking her third title at victories at the 2019 All-Star Game in Minneapolis and the 2018 All-Star Game in Seattle.
· 4 – Four players will vie for the title of the league’s best three-point shooter this year. Besides Quigley, Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones, Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd, and New York Liberty guard Sami Whitcomb will compete in this year’s contest.

WNBA All-Star in the Community
· 25,000 – The WNBA FIT All-Star Grocery Pop-Up is providing 25,000 meals to 1,000 families in July. As part of WNBA FIT Month presented by Kaiser Permanente, the league is hosting five grocery pop-ups in partnership with Goodr, including an All-Star Event in Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 13. The Official Health Care Partner of the WNBA, Kaiser Permanente serves as the health care expert and strategic consultant for the WNBA on health and wellness initiatives. Goodr is a sustainable food waste management and distribution company whose mission is to feed more, waste less.

Courtesy of the WNBA via Pitch

[Saturday 26th June] Tigers and London Sol were crowned UK champions at Red Bull’s unique basketball tournament, Red Bull Half Court. Tigers won 6 of their 7 matches whereas London Sol won 3 out of their 4 games against teams from across the capital. Both will head to the global final in Moscow, Russia.

Celebrating the best of streetball culture, the high endurance and offensive-packed competition, Red Bull Half Court made its way to Turnpike Lane, London where teams fought to earn a spot in the international final. Across the world, 20 countries and around 15,000 teams are putting their skills to the test in the one-of-a-kind tournament.

In an epic battle to the top, Tiger’s snatched the crown from last year’s UK winners, Asphalt Assassins when the two teams went head-to-head in the final ending in a 16:11 result. Speaking of the World Final in Russia, Tiger’s said: “We thought we had a shot, we worked hard for it, we even had an injury from one of our best players but we hung in there and now we’re going to Moscow in a few months!”

On the women’s teams, reigning champions London Sol conquered once a again with a 11:2 win over their opponents LDN Warriors 1. Speaking on their victory the team said, “It feels great, we had a really fun day, I’m so proud of us. We came out to have fun and compete and we came out with a win, its great!

When speaking on the World Final the team said, “To be honest I wasn’t thinking of it the whole time but now it feels a little more real, we’re really excited and ready for September!”

Courtesy of Red Bull

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the NBA Academy Women’s Virtual Program, an eight-week basketball and leadership development program for more than 40 of the top female, high-school age (14-17 years old) prospects from the outside the U.S. Participants will connect with their peers from around the world and take part in basketball and life skills development programming under the guidance of current and former WNBA players and the NBA Academy staff.

Any parent or legal guardian interested in submitting an application on behalf of their child should submit their child’s HomeCourt profile or upload a skills video as outlined in the application form on the NBA Academy website by June 18. NBA Academy Women’s Virtual Program participants will be announced in June, with the program starting in July and running through August.

As part of the program’s on-court curriculum, participants will receive weekly virtual basketball lessons, instructions and challenges featuring current and former WNBA players. The interactive lessons will include a variety of shooting, ball handling and conditioning drills to promote holistic skill development. The top performing athletes will be considered for future in-person basketball development camps and showcases.

The life skills programming will feature weekly sessions centred on leadership development, nutrition, goal setting, personal branding, mental health and wellness, player pathway education and women’s empowerment. Sessions will feature guest speakers and experts from across the NBA and WNBA family, including NBA Academy Women’s Program Global Technical Director and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Jennifer Azzi.

“The NBA Academy Women’s Virtual Program will continue our mission of helping young women around the world develop as people and players,” said Azzi. “International players are making a significant impact at all levels of the women’s game, and this program will help top international prospects connect with their peers, learn directly from WNBA players and continue their development.”

Since the NBA Academy Women’s Program launched in 2018, 25 participants have committed to NCAA Division I schools. China’s Han Xu became the first NBA Academy Women’s program participant to be drafted into the WNBA when she was selected 14th overall by the New York Liberty in the 2019 WNBA Draft.

About NBA Academy
NBA Academy is an elite basketball development initiative that provides top high school-age prospects from outside the U.S. with a holistic approach to player development.  The NBA Academy program includes six academies across Australia, China, India, Mexico and Senegal for top prospects from their respective countries and continents.  In March 2018, the NBA launched the NBA Academy Women’s Program, a series of basketball development camps for top female prospects from outside the U.S at the league’s academies.  Since then, NBA Academy Women’s Program camps have been held in Australia, China, India, Mexico, Senegal and the U.S.  More than 45 NBA Academy participants have committed to NCAA Division-1 schools and seven participants have signed professional contracts.  Find out more about the NBA Academy program at nbaacademy.nba.com, on Twitter @NBAAcademyPR and on Instagram (nbaacademy).

Red Bull Half Court is back and looking for the UK’s best streetballers to ball it out on 26^th June at Turnpike Lane, London.

Red Bull Half Court gives men and women from across the globe the opportunity to showcase their talent and become world champions by playing high-octane offense and landing buckets from all over the court. The London Finals will see streetballers from up and down the country flock to North London for their shot at glory.

The national champs will also bag themselves a spot to represent the UK at the World Finals in Russia this autumn as well as the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet the world’s best 3 on 3 baller, Dušan Bulut from Serbia

With 15,000 teams from more than 20 nations expected to participate, Half Court is fiercely contested and the most global streetball tournament on the planet, Teams advance by winning games and their groups, but there’s also a twist, with the Own the Court Bonus, which is awarded to the team in each group that has scored the most points cumulatively across the games. So even if you don’t win the most games, you might still make it through if you keep your offence going right to the end.

2019’s reigning UK champions, Milly from Sharks said: “It’s a type of basketball I had never experienced before. The unique format and tournament rules provided us a platform to play with other teams from different locations. The crowd was absolutely amazing and playing the international finals was an experience of a life time.”

Sports Director Paul Gudde of Germany commented: “We are extremely happy and proud to tip off the new season with this tremendous player response, especially in these challenging times. Our vision is to give wings to the local streetball scene and enable ballers around the world to revamp their courts.”

Red Bull Half Court showcases the hottest, rawest and most genius streetball moments and inspires the community in a very special way. Ballers are encouraged to be authentic and true to themselves. To own their court, play their game – inspired by their favorite beats. With this, the local streetball communities create their very own kind of showdown: it’s the global streetballer’s streetball tournament.

Get your game on. Sign up now and lead your team to the World Final!  www.redbullhalfcourt.com

Courtesy of Red Bull via Pitch

Barking Abbey Crusaders

Caledonia Pride

Cardiff Met Archers

Leicester Riders

Manchester Mystics

Nottingham Wildcats

Oaklands Wolves

Sevenoaks Suns

Team Northumbria

Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters

Fixtures and results of first four rounds of competition:

Round 4 – 29/30 October 2016

Leicester Riders                   66 – 41              Oaklands Wolves

Manchester Mystics           77 – 52                Caledonia Pride

Nottingham Wildcats         81 – 43               Cardiff Met Archers

Sheffield Hatters                86 – 71                Leicester Riders

Team Northumbria            75 – 32               Cardiff Met Archers

Round 3 – 22/23 October 2016

Manchester Mystics         87 – 37                  Cardiff Met Archers

Sevenoaks Suns                 63 – 54                Team Northumbria

Nottingham Wildcats      91 – 52                 Caledonia Pride

Leicester Riders                54 – 42                 Barking Abbey Crusaders

Sheffield Hatters               88 – 43                  Caledonia Pride

Oaklands Wolves              62 – 85                 Team Northumbria

Round 2 – 15/16 October 2016

Cardiff Met Archers         78 – 81                 Oakland Wolves

Sevenoaks Suns                 61 – 66                 Leicester Riders

Nottingham Wildcats      87 – 85                 Sheffield Hatters

Oaklands Wolves              68 – 89                 Manchester Mystics

Barking Abbey                   77 – 36                 Cardiff Met Archers

Round 1 – 7/9 October 2016

Cardiff Met Archers         58 – 82                 Sevenoaks Suns

Manchester Mystics         61 – 63                 Barking Abbey Crusaders

Leicester Riders                87 – 37                 Caledonia Pride

Oaklands Wolves              58 – 85                 Sheffield Hatters

Team Northumbria          66 – 72                 Nottingham Wildcats