Women’s Basketball in the UK has hit crisis point as both the General Manager,Jacob Lloyd, and Head Coach Stella Kaltsidou resigned due to funding and resource cuts, but Solent University’s Womens Basketball team are determined to show that the sport deserves respect and has a place in the country.
The sport has received criticism, with suggestions that the Men’s game is more important, however key members of Solent’s squad told Solent Sports News that that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Melanie Garcia said: “I would tell anyone that says that f*** off and tell them that it is a great sport to play, they probably haven’t even seen us play.”
“When they do watch us in action, they will be surprised” she added.
Melanie’s teammates agreed with her stance, with one stating that these individuals don’t know what they are talking about when it comes to the sport.
Team Solent recently secured a dominant 63-21 win against Cardiff University to earn their place in the BUCS semi-finals, with team spirit at an all time high.
Player Gemma Moss praised the side’s togetherness and cited it as one of the reasons she plays.
Moss said: “I enjoy playing because of the team culture and the vibe that everyone brings. I started playing basketball because a lot of my friends were playing so I thought I’d give it a go and I’m glad that I did.
The sport is in a difficult situation at the professional level, with the British Basketball Federation (BFF) entering liquidation in November, leading to Lloyd and Kaltsidou’s resignations from the national set-up.
Where does the future of the sport lie and can grassroots enthusiasm, such as that at Solent, elevate the sport’s reputation and long term future for the next generation.
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