GIRL EMPOWERMENT FOR MORE THAN 50 GIRLS AT ‘LADY BALLERS CLINIC’

The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Academy celebrated International Day of the Girl, by hosting a Lady Ballers Clinic, for more than 50 girls ages 8 to 14.

The program aims to not only empower girls in youth basketball but improve the overall youth basketball experience, by implementing transferable life skills such as teamwork, leadership and self-confidence.

Special surprise guest Atlanta Dream star forward Naz Hillmon spoke to the girls about her journey to the WNBA.

Hillmon is no stranger to the clinic she participated last summer for the “Summer Hoop Fest” she loves the opportunity to speak with the girls and show representation.

“If I can be in the community be around the girls and be a familiar face, I feel like they maybe want to learn more about the W, or maybe come to more games, or maybe feel like I can do this more because this person I talked to (myself) struggled at some point. I just think that showing face and being apart of the community just helps not only their confidence, it helps grow the game in terms of the W.” 2021 Big Ten Player of the Year Naz Hillmon said.

“Our Lady Ballers Clinic provides an inclusive and safe environment for girls to have fun and learn life’s lessons through the game of basketball,” said Hawks’ Vice President of Basketball Development Jon Babul.

The Hawks began its Lady Ballers program in 2017, which aims to help young girls develop a lifelong passion for the game through positive engagements with female role models and coaches in a safe learning environment.

“Being able to reach girls at this age and to teach them the lessons they can learn through sports is so important, and I am so happy I was able to talk to them about the things I have learned through my career.” said Hillmon.

The clinic is also a part of Jr. NBA Week, where teams across the NBA and WNBA celebrate the impact youth basketball has on the development of young boys and girls both on and off the court. For more information on the Lady Ballers Program, visit Hawks.com/LadyBallers. To learn more the Hawks Basketball Academy and other youth basketball programs, visit HawksBasketballAcademy.com.