Basketball Northern Ireland is thrilled to celebrate the second year of its first of a kind She Got Game initiative — a Women in Sport social basketball programme that continues to inspire, empower, and elevate female participation across Northern Ireland. What began as an ambitious effort to get more women onto the court in a non competitive environment, has now become a vibrant community where confidence, camaraderie, and love for the game thrive.
The 6-week programme, funded by Sport Northern Ireland, is open to women of all skill levels — from complete rookies to seasoned all-stars and has far surpassed expectations in just two short years. Designed to be inclusive and fun, She Got Game offers a safe and welcoming space for women to reconnect with basketball or try it for the very first time. Whether you’re lacing up for the first time or rediscovering your inner baller, this programme is for you.
This year saw the programme expand significantly, now running in Belfast Bulls, Magherafelt Titans, Newry Fliers, North Star Warriors, Queens, Lurgan Lakers, and Larne YMCA BC — a testament to the growing demand and enthusiasm among women across the region.
The highlight of the year came on a vibrant Friday night at Newforge, where the Season 2 finale blitz took place. With 7 teams and over 90 women hitting the court made up from MaBulls, Magherafelt Titans, Newry Fliers, Queens and North Star Warriors, the energy was electric. We were also delighted to welcome Phoenix Basketball Club’s women’s social team, who added to the spirit of fun and friendly competition. Each team was recognised for their commitment and energy with a Most Valuable Effort award, and all participants received their well-earned She Got Game medals — a token of pride for the hard work and heart they brought to the programme.
Reflecting on the success and rapid growth of the programme, Programme Coordinator Niamh Mac Manus shared:
“I’m incredibly proud of what She Got Game has become in just a couple of years. To see so many women from different backgrounds, clubs, and skill levels come together, support each other, and have fun while playing basketball — it’s been nothing short of inspiring. The sense of community that’s grown around this programme is amazing, and it’s only going to keep getting stronger.”
Marc Mulholland, Co-Founder of Belfast Bulls and Basketball NI Vice Chair said, “We are immensely proud of the great work we are doing in communities across NI with our ‘She Got Game – Empowering Women in Sport’ programme, in its second year as we build on the retention and growth of basketball in Northern Ireland. ‘She Got Game’ is all about embracing the social side to the game of basketball. Building relationships, all while engaging in physical activity that results in development our health and wellbeing within the sport. We have seen such diverse groups women and girls really engage in the social side and understand that this is not competition. We have alternative pathways for players wanting to engage in the sport and the exciting element to She Got Game is that if a player wants to evolve into competition they have a pathway to do so. She Got Game is about being creative with in basketball in finding more ways to grow the game with the limited resources we have and reaching as many women and girls as we grow our basketball community. We have found that this outreach is having a positive effect on the culture of basketball helping bring more understanding to the game from a wider audience.
We are very lucky to have two inspiring women working to deliver this project in Niamh MacManus (BNI Programme Coordinator) and Lauren McCullough (Club Engagement Officer) who continue to lead the way in supporting the Sport NI ‘Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong’ campaign for helping to grow Women and Girls participation in sport. Along with the communities and great coaches we have partnered with, it is their energy and application of this program that is helping it grow from strength to strength. One participant feedback told me, “The She Got Game Blitz is our families favourite time of the year, my daughter and son come along with my husband to see their mum play a sport that I only took up a 2 years ago. For them to see me playing a sport and enjoying it in a positive environment warms my heart and I hope they will see the benefits of basketball and learn that you are never too old to try something new, learn a new skill and make great friends along the way.”
Joanne Fitzpatrick MBE, a player from Newry Fliers had this to say on the programme: “I joined the Newry Fliers women’s social team in January 2024 after not having played for quite some time. I’ve been playing basketball since I was 11 years old and always loved the social side of it, so to discover a programme solely based around getting people together to play and learn in a safe and encouraging space was amazing. I was welcomed into the Newry squad with open arms and felt at home instantly. Helen and the rest of the girls made the sessions fun, engaging and the right amount of challenging. With the team, I’ve attended 4 of the blitz tournaments so far. Ourselves, Ma Bulls and Magherafelt Titans have developed a great relationship now, where its a beautiful combination of fun, competition and respect. It’s great to see the number of teams growing each time, with more and more women from across the country taking to the court, from North Star Warriors, Queens and Phoenix BC attending the most recent blitz. I think that having the support of Basketball NI’s She Got Game programme has been instrumental in getting so many more women on the court and either returning to basketball or trying it out for the first time. I love the fact that the blitz tournaments don’t have a scoreboard (even though many still count in their head). It shifts the focus to being about development, effort and team work, rather than ability and experience. It allows everyone to experience the fun of the sport and its ability to bring people together. I can’t wait to see how the programme continues to grow and bring more women to the basketball court and fall in love with the game the way we all have.”
As we wrap up another successful year, one thing is clear: She Got Game isn’t just a programme — it’s a movement. And it’s only just getting started.
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