All Girls - Mystics and Wildcats celebrate International Women's Day

The Manchester Mystics and Nottingham Wildcats celebrated International Women's Day - with 200 girls getting involved in basketball.

Basketball England's All Girls campaign, Jr. NBA and 3x3 came together in Nottingham alongside a host of star names.

More than 80 girls from schools and clubs were at the Wildcats Arena to take part in coaching sessions and a 3x3 tournament, led by former Great Britain and England Commonwealth Games star Siobhan Prior.

📹| ⁦@Shevy_P4⁩ on the importance of the #AllGirls events like ⁦@NottmWildcats⁩ this week, as we get set for another fantastic day with ⁦@Mcr_Mystics⁩ tomorrow

More ➡️ https://t.co/yAa6XiC8dc#TogetherWeAreBasketbALL pic.twitter.com/90Bs5kuvH8

— Basketball England (@bballengland) March 5, 2020

Prior was in good company as she was joined by Great Britain teammate Georgia Jones, Wildcats favourites Jasmine Joyner and Simone Costa, German International Praise Egharevba, Wildcats and GB U18 Women’s coach Kenrick Liburd, as well as a number of coaches and volunteers.

Members of the Basketball England team were also in attendance, including CEO Stewart Kellett, Relationship and Co-ordinator Manager Laura Doherty and All Girls Officer Fiona Murray.

The thoughts of #AllGirls Co-ordinator Fiona Murray as she settles into her new role#TogetherWeAreBasketbALL pic.twitter.com/OnisY41AST

— Basketball England (@bballengland) March 5, 2020

Then Jones and her Mystics teammates - with Rheanne Baily taking the lead -  came together with Basketball England at the National Basketball Performance Centre to host another event with over 100 girls from schools in the North West.

Prior said of the importance of these events: “These events are just massive in igniting the love of basketball in girls, them seeing other girls playing and knowing that it’s okay to be aggressive, to work hard, to sweat and just get really involved in the game.

“They can be whoever they want to be on the court and it’s just priceless, events like this, to enable girls to feel that way about themselves.”

Attending her first event at Nottingham since being appointed to the role, Murray added: “It’s been really nice to be able to get out there on the court and see these young girls getting involved and really enjoying themselves.

“Ultimately, this is what it’s all about. Getting girls, women, anybody out there on a court and having fun.

“It’s kind of put everything we do at Basketball England into perspective. It’s been a really fun day and nice seeing lots of happy, smiling faces around.”

“The all, for me, is getting ALL abilities involved”

It was great to hear from #AllGirls Ambassador Karen Goodrich at the Wildcats Arena this week#TogetherWeAreBasketbALL pic.twitter.com/VZswX8BTNb

— Basketball England (@bballengland) March 4, 2020

All Girls Ambassador Karen Goodrich brought her players from Northants Basketball Club and NSG basketball team and said: “When I heard of the All Girls campaign, I definitely wanted to get involved because I’ve always prioritised girls getting involved in basketball.

“The 'All', for me, is getting all abilities involved. Whether that’s playing, coaching, officiating or whatever form.

“But please, clubs and coaches out there, don’t get rid of those girls that aren’t very good. Get them playing, because they might have potential.”

There was also further great All Girls news from this week as ambassador Maddy Doyle was featured on the BBC, her story is shown below: