Empowering Muslim Girls Through Basketball: My Personal Journey

Basketball Changed My Life as a Muslim; Now I Help Other Women Play, Too

Secret Beginnings

Discovering Basketball: I started playing basketball secretly at age 16 in college because I feared losing the joy it brought me.
Cultural Challenges: Growing up in Leicester's Somali community, Muslim girls like me were encouraged to focus on studies and modesty, making sports less common for us.

Developing a Passion

Inspiration: Watching basketball legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan fueled my passion.
Self-Learning: I taught myself the rules and practiced drills at school.
Joining a Team: After impressing a coach during a college open day, I joined the Gateway College girls’ basketball team.

Balancing Life and Basketball

Fitness and Dedication: To improve my game, I worked on my fitness and practiced regularly.
Telling My Parents: Initially, I lied about staying after school for tutoring. Eventually, I told my parents about basketball, and they supported my passion.

Public Recognition

First Photo Shoot: During my first season post-pandemic at Leicester’s DeMontfort University, I was selected for a promotional photo shoot.
Unexpected Fame: My photo became a floor-to-ceiling poster, making me the first Muslim hijabi girl to represent the university's basketball team.

Inspiring Others

Significance: Seeing my image publicly represented was powerful, motivating me to encourage young Muslim girls to play sports.
Community Support: My family and friends are proud. Many girls in my community now approach me for advice on playing basketball.

Creating a Movement

Modesty and Sports: We follow modesty etiquette while playing, which includes wearing leggings, long-sleeved tops, and sports hijabs.
Encouraging Change: More Somali communities are beginning to accept girls playing sports, seeing the joy and freedom it brings.
Future Goals: We are starting a movement to show that Muslim girls can play, compete, and win in sports.

Basketball transformed my life, and now I am dedicated to helping other Muslim women experience the same joy and freedom through sports.

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