When I think of women’s sport, the likes of netball and dance spring to mind. But this is changing, rapidly in fact, with a prime example being that of the university’s own basketball society. The women’s second team are achieving staggering success boasting a 7-1 record, with back-to-back trips to the Cup semifinals in the last two years. You’re thinking these women have picked up the ball from birth and haven’t left it since aren’t you; well, you’re wrong. Many of these stars are new to the game, starting their basketball career during first year. The success doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon either, with record sign ups for the club resulting in a third team being established.
One of the initial members of the squad is Matilde, now a third-year and veteran of the sport, she gained her love for hoops through her father and decided to rock up and see what all the fuss was about. After passing trials, Matilde gave it a shot as a ‘why not? Fuck it’ and a fondness soon crept in. Matilde said the trainings were made by those around her, fronting the communal aspect and ‘street cred’ she felt she gained when telling her mates she was off to the court. As Matilde continued to with the sport, the lack of knowledge towards basketball seemed to matter little, with those around her dusting off the odd rule on her without her even knowing. This drive to win and support of each other led to disregarding differences as ‘we all wanna hoop, so let’s hoop!’ The girl’s mentality didn’t just draw Matilde in, but Caoimhe too.
Dublin’s 12 year basketball veteran, Caoimhe originally dropped basketball to play Gaelic football in first year. It was in second year that she returned to the sport, and hasn’t thought about leaving since, with a newfound love developing from the casual approach in the team. Yet, this relaxed atmosphere didn’t hurt results, instead, it allowed the girls gain confidence in their own ability. This camaraderie created a sense of pride for one another, but also themselves, resulting in the club being ‘the biggest group [Caoimhe] ever liked’. As well as developing a familial relation with her teammates, basketball blossomed a sense of pride in Caoimhe through not only representing the university at a top level, but herself and every other woman on that team. Caoimhe devoted it simply to their urge to ‘play for each other’, something both girls were adamant on.
Now, with all this talk about teamwork and success, I’m sure the assumption of a 60-year-old mastermind employing intricate tactics creeps in. Well, you’d be well off, it’s only Tomass, an undergraduate last year and now a master’s student here at UoM. While he takes no responsibility for their wins, the girls can’t stop praising him. Mr. Humble came into coaching W2 in his third year, pushing a sense of togetherness, resulting in players gaining confidence in their ability, whether a novice or veteran. Tomass’ focus on the tangible aspects within the game promotes a mentality around effort and perseverance. This is amplified by his coaching style of throwing these girls into the deep end through drills and inter-squad games, pushing the girls to get comfortable in all situations, and get comfortable quick! This respect for his players is reciprocated through the girl’s pride for the team and their will to win on the court, which has ultimately led to their outstanding success in the recent years.
By now I think I’ve made the point that W2 aren’t bad at all at playing basketball while showing who’s responsible for this achievement. So now I’m going to ask, what took so bloody long?! So many girls have the talent to play this sport leading me to question why don’t they? I reckon it’s got something to do with the stigma about it being a sport for blokes, but it clearly isn’t through a quarter of participants at the trials identifying as female last year, and that’s only expected to rise. Professionals such as Caitlin Clark are to thank for some of this, I assure you, but the amount of women’s basketball played around the globe, let alone Manchester, should be higher. Basketball’s inclusive positioning, ‘there’s a role you can excel at no matter who you are’ was mentioned by the club’s women’s president PJ. PJ and I then came onto role models, where she talked of prior teammates inspiring her constantly whether they were older, younger, first team or just in the park. Now, as cliché as this sounds, I know when someone like me has achieved something big or small, I ask what’s my excuse!?
This zero-to-hero story is not only one to write about, but one to join. I think women’s basketball, especially in Manchester, is only on the up- quickly at that. The emphasis on playing for each is a virtue that can only promise better things, and I argue that women’s basketball can do that too (forgetting about the occasional sore leg or honking shoes I must warn).
