The Continuous Rise of African Women Basketball: What are the Contributing Factors?

African women's basketball has been around for years, but it isn't until recently before it starts growing. One thing we know certainly is that the slow progressions witnessed in the past wasn’t due to a lack of talent. As Amadou Gallo Fall, president of the Basketball Africa League, aptly puts it, ‘‘Africa is the center of the Earth for talent in sports.’’ Regardless of the plagues of the past, everyone involved with the continent is happy to see women basketball growing rapidly now.

There is now a growing influence of African basketball women players who are changing the narratives in the continental and international scene. For instance, the Nigerian women's basketball team, The D'Tigress, is currently ranked one of the best teams in the world, sitting in the number 8 position on the worldwide ladder in the recent rankings for September 2024.

Apart from the exploits of D’Tigress on the local and international scene, there is also the U19 team from Mali, the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup. No doubt, the tide has turned, but what elements support these remarkable performances? Let us examine them in this article.

Funding and Development of Infrastructure

The change of fortune in African women's basketball comes mostly from more infrastructure and program funding meant to foster talent. Governments, basketball federations, and businesses have worked incredibly hard to provide female athletes with better facilities and opportunities.

When FIBA Africa changed to the Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL) in 2022, things changed significantly. This tournament gathered elite players from all around the world and underlined the growing popularity of women's basketball in Africa.

The first tournament back in 2023 was dominated by Egypt's Alexandria Sporting Club; American-Senegalese athlete Cierra Dillard also guided her squad to triumph and won the MVP trophy. This event served to raise the profile of the sport around the continent and provided female basketball players with a much-needed platform.

Leadership Landscape

Investments are not limited to players alone. Women like the Vice President of NBA Africa, Gbemisola Abudu, are changing the landscape in leadership. Being the first female coach of a men's team at the AfroBasket event also made Liz Mills historic. Women are getting opportunities to assume leadership roles in African basketball, which is boosting their involvement.

Rise of International Exposure and Opportunities

The growing worldwide awareness and chances for players to participate at higher levels are another important element fueling the ongoing ascent of African women's basketball. More African women have lately entered elite professional leagues such as the WNBA and European leagues. Players like Sika Koné of Mali and Ezinne Kalu from Nigeria have flourished abroad, demonstrating that African athletes can compete and excel at the top levels of their respective sports.

The exposure foreign athletes have is producing role models for next generations of African women. The experience gained from playing internationally is brought back to the continent, helping to raise the level of competition. This has greatly helped African teams such as Nigeria's D'Tigress since their players bring back abilities refined in top worldwide leagues, therefore ensuring their dominance in the AfroBasket Women's event.

Growth of Women's Basketball at the Grassroots Level

Across the continent, programs targeting youth and community development have been key to increasing participation among girls and young women.

Elisa Pires, coach of Angola’s Inter Club, also stressed the importance of grassroots initiatives. When asked in an exclusive interview about the initiatives she is involved in that are contributing to the development of the sport in Angola, she said, “I have coached at the youth level for a decade and I know that makes a difference. I love giving opportunities to young players and I intentionally follow their careers as I want to see them succeed.”

Many initiatives have been put together by government and private bodies to boost participation and growth of women basketball in Africa. Some of these initiatives are discussed below.

Giants of Africa

Giants of Africa, a project initiated by Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri, has greatly helped women in basketball to flourish for over 20 years. Giants of Africa is aggressively creating basketball courts all throughout the continent to give young people—especially girls, access to appropriate coaching and training facilities.

Basketball without Borders (BWB)

Basketball Without Borders has held camps in several African nations, assisting over 500 players—both male and female, as they make their way to professional ranks, including individuals who currently play in the WNBA and other international leagues. Often in fields where prospects are few, this program gives young female athletes the chance to hone their talents.

Other Grassroots Initiatives

The Basketball National League (BNL), in cooperation with local businesses, runs youth development workshops and gives girls the stage to compete in high school events in South Africa. This exposure to structured competitions from a young age is vital for building a strong talent pipeline.

Furthermore, the NBA Academy Africa, which runs in Senegal, has been instrumental in providing young female players with avenues to grow personally. These initiatives are meant to provide not only training but also access to top-notch coaching and exposure to worldwide events.

The Role of Media and Social Media

According to Wasserman, women's sports now account for 15% of total sports media coverage. This is to show that social media is giving athletes unprecedented visibility and direct access to fans. Platforms like Instagram, X, and YouTube allow players to showcase their skills, share personal stories, and engage with a global audience.

According to Kate Richardson, MightyTips tipster and an expert in the iGaming industry, this online engagement is also bringing new opportunities for industries like sports betting. As fans are getting updates about their favorite basketball teams and players, they develop an interest to place bets on them.

For instance, in a country like Kenya where there is a new wave of basketball popularity, punters are now betting on the results of the country’s female basketball team and the teams from countries like Nigeria Senegal, and across the continent. Meanwhile, social media can also help interested punters to discover new places to bet in Kenya.

Overall, social media has tangible impacts on the sport in Africa. Like many of their counterparts throughout the world, African women athletes have embraced social media to interact with supporters, raise their voices, and get global limelight.

Leagues such as the FIBA Africa Women's Championship have used social media to live-stream games to greatly increase their reach and involvement. The highlights and behind-the-scenes material by athletes has also created followings beyond boundaries, ensuring that there is visibility from foreign scouts and leagues. This visibility has even turned into more sponsorship and business prospects as brands see the rising impact and fan base of these athletes.

Conclusion

The reasons for the continuous rise of African women’s basketball are not far-fetched. Increased investment in infrastructure, international exposure, media visibility, and grassroots programs are the factors fueling its growth.

As the sport continues to grow, the focus must remain on fostering young talent, breaking down societal barriers, and creating more opportunities for women to thrive. By continuing to invest in these areas, the world will undoubtedly see more African women dominating the courts, inspiring the next generation, and reshaping the global basketball landscape.