WIZARDS AND MYSTICS PARTNER WITH NIKE TO HELP GROW SPORT FOR GIRLS
Game Growers to Create More Opportunities for Girls in Second Season
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Wizards and the Washington Mystics are joining forces with Nike, the NBA and WNBA for a second season of Game Growers. Created for girls 13 years or older in seventh or eighth grade, Game Growers offers a unique and empowering opportunity for girls to share their ideas on how to encourage more girls to play sports.
The Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics are two of 38 NBA/WNBA teams participating in the second season of the program. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 4 for two Co-Captains, who will lead the development of an idea to grow sports for girls. For applications visit www.gamegrowers.com.
The Wizards and Mystics Game Growers teams will develop and test their idea, creating a game plan to grow sports participation for girls in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Game Growers participants will be notified by Jan.15, 2021 and will earn a chance to develop their ideas to get more girls playing sports. The GameGrowers Game plans will be shared on each team’s website in Spring 2021. New this season will be the addition of Game Growers Teammates, who are girls 13 years or older in seventh or eighth grade who support Co-Captains on their journey.
“Nike believes that girls who move, move the world. And we know that 13 is a critical age to keep girls engaged in sport so they can reap the benefits of being active,” said Caitlin Morris, General Manager of Social & Community Impact at NIKE, Inc. “This is the age when girls are likely to drop out of sport – a lack of supportive coaches or access to the right product to play with confidence are two of many reasons why. Inclusive, community-based programs like Game Growers connect girls to play and sport and provide them with the opportunity to shape the future of the game for other girls, too.
According to a 2018 study from the Women’s Sports Foundation, nearly 40 percent of girls don’t participate in sport, versus 25 percent of boys. Game Growers girls are already playing sports. By participating in the program, they not only have the potential for their ideas to get more girls playing, they also have the chance to grow their own leadership potential by developing ideas that make a difference in their community and having their voice heard.
“The Game Growers program is an inspiring and positive way to encourage young girls to continue to voice their opinions, break down barriers and build confidence,” said Washington Wizards Marketing Manager Erin Johnson. “We hope to continue building this program with Nike and the DMV Community for years to come.”
Last season, Wizards Game Growers winners Yari and Anaiya were chosen for their Ball-Her Vision game plan to give more opportunities and resources within their communities. The Mystics chose winners Gianna and Kendall for their Game GrowHERS app idea to give girls free, accessible sports training and provide more resources for young girls to participate in sports. Learn more about Ball-Her Vision and the Game GrowHers app here: https://www.gamegrowers.com/game-plans?tab=tab-create-connection#create-connection-washington-wizards