Upstart Maritime basketball league hopes to keep women on the court
Ellen Hatt is the person who created the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association.
Hatt, a Halifax 25-year old, ended her four-year tenure on Acadia women’s basketball in 2019.
However, her basketball career came to an abrupt halt with graduation.
It was a part of my identity. Hatt said, “But there was no other place for me to play.” said.
The MWBA is an amateur league that Brad Janes, former president of Basketball New Brunswick, founded.
Two years ago, MWBA play will be open. Six teams from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick will take to the court at Leo Hayes Secondary School in Fredericton.
Hatt’s team, the Halifax Thunder, will play the first game in league history against the Moncton Mystics at 2 p.m. ET. The season ends on the last weekend of June.
Hatt saidThere was no doubt in her mind that joining the Thunder’s MWBA team would be a decision she made.
Aside from that, the league fills in for her three-year basketball absence.
Hatt stated, “It provides a space for women to continue playing because we see that there aren’t these other avenues to help women keep developing.” said.
Zoom call creates a league
In the early days of the pandemic, Janes joined a Zoom call organized by a local coach and featuring a Q&A with Canada’s then-women’s basketball coach Lisa Thomaidis.
“One of the most important questions was: How can Canada keep rising in the global rankings?” Janes recalled. “And Lisa said”We are the only top-ranked FIBA country without a national pro league.” That really stood out.
Janes began to jot down information on the “backside of a napkin”. Thomaidis, Mike Mackay, Canada Basketball women’s performance manager, as well as Mike Morreale (Canadian Elite Basketball League commissioner) were also among his contacts.
Janes quickly realized that a professional league was financially impossible.
“We have always had a great relationship with our customers. saidWe want to manage this league professionally, but it is strictly an amateur league,” he stated. said.
Historic moments in Moncton today as the <a href=”https://twitter.com/the_mwba?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@the_mwba</a> tipped off it’s first preseason. Shannon Youden of the <a href=”https://twitter.com/MonctonMystics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@MonctonMystics</a> got the first 2 off a feed from <a href=”https://twitter.com/kellyvass7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@kellyvass7</a> after a steal from <a href=”https://twitter.com/MTA_Athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@MTA_Athletics</a> own Abby Miller. The 1st hoop for the <a href=”https://twitter.com/freezemwba?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@freezemwba</a> came courtesy of <a href=”https://twitter.com/EvaTumwine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@EvaTumwine</a> <a href=”https://t.co/V4YRZhiQlL”>pic.twitter.com/V4YRZhiQlL</a>
—@hoopstingley
To this end, he saidEach team will have a budget of around $10,000. All player costs will also be covered by the league which has deals with grocery stores and hotels.
Janes approached Tasia McKinna, Basketball Nova Scotia’s technical director, in June 2020. McKenna had played five years at Lakehead University and graduated in 2011.
McKenna was to be appointed commissioner. The Timberlea native from N.S. had to accept the offer until October that year.
McKenna, now 33 years old, said, “I wish it was there when I was playing.” said. “The other piece was where should I go after I’m done with playing? … My options are either stop playing or go overseas. At the time, I didn’t want to make that choice.
McKenna decided to become a coach at Saint Mary’s. She found regular pickup games that she could join like Hatt but then realized she had lost a step.
The first step towards a professional league
McKenna saidThe MWBA is able to help players like her in their development of skills in a competitive environment, with the ultimate goal of making it a professional league.
“Athletes all over the country want it. It’s not just for the Maritimes. McKenna: We heard Bridget Carleton and Natalie Achonwa from our senior women’s team talk about this need, for women coast to coast. said.
McKenna is the commissioner of a league which incorporates athletes’ voices in all aspects. She saidThis is especially true in a women’s league that has just begun, where moms are also involved.
Some of these concerns could be alleviated by a fully functioning professional league like the CEBL for the men’s.
“The dream is that it will come true. It doesn’t matter if that happens through us or another person. It’s not the importance of that league, it’s critical,” she said. said.
Influence future players
Denise dignard is Team Canada’s women’s general manger and high-performance chief director. saidThe MWBA could be a positive influence.
“Young girls will notice that this is a sport they would love to participate in. I have the opportunity to continue playing after university. Dignard said. “Yet, 35-year-olds are still playing semi-professionally or professionally in club basketball in every country.”
Janes also serves as the Fredericton Freeze’s general manager. He hopes that the league will be competitively balanced.
“That women will have the opportunity to play is my greatest thing. If our team wins, that’s great. Halifax wins, great. Janes said that Halifax wins are great. said.
Like McKenna, his hopes are for the MWBA to lead to a pro league — one way or another. HoopQueens, which claims to be Toronto’s first women’s basketball league paid, announced last week that play would start in June.
Hatt hopes to have an influence on her community through her game. Hatt and a friend started a podcast called “Now’s The Time.”
These words can be used to accurately represent the MWBA’s goals.
“What’s cool about it? It’s the first of its type. Hatt stated, “There isn’t a MWBA anywhere else” said.
“Someday it might become not just the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association; but, grow across Canada.”
SourceCBC Sports
