Brooklyn Celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day with Youth Basketball Clinic

Middle school girls participate in drills, games, and discussions to inspire them on and off the court.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 7:23pm

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Dozens of middle school girls celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center on Wednesday. The event, hosted by the New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets, featured a schedule of basketball drills, games, and discussions designed to inspire students both on and off the court. In addition to on-court activities, the program included a panel on confidence featuring leaders from the world of professional sports.

Why it matters

The Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, which opened about five months ago across from the Barclays Center, is a youth initiative designed to engage students in community-based sports programs and provide opportunities that may not have always existed for girls and women in sports, both on and off the court.

The details

The Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, which is affiliated with the New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets, hosted the National Girls and Women in Sports Day event. The program included basketball drills, games, and a panel discussion on confidence featuring leaders from the professional sports world. After the clinic, students created vision boards to encourage them to set ambitious goals for the future.

  • The event took place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
  • The Brooklyn Basketball Training Center opened about five months ago.

The players

Journie Walker

A 10-year-old girl who has dreams of playing professional basketball.

Marissa Shorenstein

The chief of external affairs for Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, which oversees the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center.

Giselle Alqahshi

An 11-year-old girl who wants to be "something big" like a lawyer or doctor to change the world.

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What they’re saying

“Keep on trying. I try to be a basketball star. If you can't be a basketball star, try to play in your head ... dream about where you want to be.”

— Journie Walker

“The opportunities that exist in sports that may not have always existed in the past, not just on the court, but all the types of careers you can have in sports off the court.”

— Marissa Shorenstein, Chief of External Affairs, Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment

“I want to be something big. I want to be a lawyer, a doctor, something that will change the world.”

— Giselle Alqahshi

What’s next

The Brooklyn Basketball Training Center plans to continue hosting community-based sports programs and events to engage local students, especially girls and young women, in athletics and inspire them to pursue their dreams both on and off the court.

The takeaway

This event highlights the growing efforts to provide more opportunities and inspiration for girls and women in sports, not just as athletes, but in all aspects of the sports industry. By engaging middle school students in hands-on activities and discussions with professional sports leaders, the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center is helping to empower the next generation of female athletes, coaches, executives, and innovators.