Wizards and Mystics partner with Nike in effort to empower girls, encourage more to play sports
WASHINGTON – The Washington Wizards and the Washington Mystics have teamed up with Nike, the NBA, and WNBA for the second installment 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 encouraging more girls to play sports.
“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,” said Caitlin Morris, General Manager of Social & Community Impact at NIKE, Inc.
The Wizards and Mystics are two of 38 NBA/WNBA teams participating in the program’s second season.
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 Game Growers 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 Morris.
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.
The program will allow these children the chance to grow their leadership potential by developing ideas that make a difference in their community and having their voices 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.”
