Jr. WNBA

“I was once in their position, literally not even knowing if I wanted to play basketball, not even knowing if I wanted to stay in sports. And because I did, it allowed me to be the person that I am today.” – A’ja Wilson, Jr. WNBA Global Ambassador

  • About

    JR. WNBA IS THE WNBA’S HOME FOR GIRLS BASKETBALL, WHERE THE GAME FUELS WHOLE-GIRL GROWTH ON AND OFF THE COURT

    The WNBA sees basketball as more than a game – through the Jr. WNBA, we design programming, coaching and community experiences that help girls build skills, grow with confidence, and stay connected for life.

    This platform was created to KEEP GIRLS IN THE GAME by making basketball a space where they can grow, connect, and come back season after season.

    CONTACT

    The staff of the Jr. WNBA is happy to answer questions regarding Jr. WNBA. Please email JrNBA@nba.com and a representative will be available to assist.

  • Belonging in Basketball

     

    Belonging in Basketball Resources

    Jr. WNBA’s Belonging in Basketball resources, created in partnership with Girls Leadership, are culturally responsive and healing centered, designed for and by girls.

    Coaches have easy, exclusive access to the following resources to support how they work with girls in sport:

    • Certification: Training to equip coaches with activities, coaching tips, and mindsets to create a strong foundation of wellbeing, belonging and community for their teams.
    • Curriculum: 36 lessons across 3 age groups (7-9, 10-12, 13-17) designed to ground players in creating a space to be brave, make mistakes, and lead; created in partnership with Girls Leadership.
    • Wellness Check-Ins: 23 quick activities to build the social and emotional muscles of self-awareness, empathy, and connection to others; created in partnership with Girls Leadership.
    • Journal Guides:Everything 7-12-year-old girls need to start their own journaling practice, including why journaling is important, different options of journaling, and 12 journaling prompts paired with real stories from WNBA players.
    • Beyond The Game Lessons:Athlete and Coach Guides to help 13-17-year-olds expand their Vision of who they are beyond an Athlete and evolve from being an Athlete to becoming a Visionary; created in partnership with Athletes to Visionaries.

    HOW CAN YOU ACCESS THESE RESOURCES?

    All resources are accessible for free through the Jr. WNBA Academy, a digital hub for self-serve, on-demand learning.

    Click here to register and gain access immediately!

    The Belonging in Basketball resources will help coaches achieve the following:

    • Engage their players in meaningful self-awareness activities and leadership conversations.
    • Learn how to cultivate a sense of belonging for every girl on the team.
    • Support the building of social and emotional muscles of self-awareness, empathy, and compassion for others.

  • Court of Leaders
    The Court of Leaders is an exclusive, invite-only program for select elite high school prospects. Through mentorship from industry leaders, candid conversations with players and legends, and access to personalized development resources, members gain the support and guidance needed to thrive on the court, in their communities, and beyond the game.

  • AT&T Partnership

    AT&T PARTNERSHIP

    AT&T, the MARQUEE SPONSOR OF THE WNBA and an inaugural member of the league’s Changemakers program, is committed to supporting the next generation of champions and raising the visibility of women’s sports through the Jr. WNBA.

    In partnership with the WNBA, AT&T has hosted clinics and panel sessions for girls ages 7-17 around the country. These clinics pair on-court training with off-court discussions exploring the challenges that girls and women face in sports and in life.

     

  • FAQ

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Who can run the Jr. WNBA program?

    Any girl-serving organization or coach can run the Jr. WNBA program using the Belonging in Basketball resources.

    What are the curriculum/resources available to me as part of Jr. WNBA?

    After creating a log-in on our Jr. WNBA Academy on WorkRamp, you’ll have immediate access to the following Belonging in Basketball resources to support how you work with girls in sport:

    • Certification: Training to equip coaches with activities, coaching tips, and mindsets to create a strong foundation of belonging and community for their teams.
    • Curriculum: 36 lessons across 3 age groups (7-9, 10-12, 13-17) designed to ground players in creating a space to be brave and make mistakes; created in partnership with Girls Leadership.
    • Wellness Check-Ins: 23 quick activities to build the social and emotional muscles of self-awareness, empathy, and compassion for others; created in partnership with Girls Leadership.
    • Beyond the Game Lessons: Athlete and Coach Guides to help 13-17-year-olds expand their vision of who they are beyond an athlete and travel from being an Athlete to becoming a Visionary; created in partnership with Athletes to Visionaries.
    • Journal Guide: Everything 7-12-year-old girls need to start their own journaling practice, including why journaling is important, different options of journaling, and 12 journaling prompts paired with real stories from WNBA players.

    How do I access the curriculum/resources?

    All resources are accessible through the Jr. WNBA Academy on WorkRamp, our digital hub for self-serve, on-demand learning. The academy is free, all you need to do is create a log-in on the academy here to receive immediate access.

    Is there any training involved in Jr. WNBA?

    The Belonging in Basketball Certification is available on the Jr. WNBA Academy on WorkRamp. The certification is a self-paced training that should take no longer than 90-minutes. The training will equip you with activities, coaching tips, and mindsets to create a strong foundation of belonging and community for your teams.

    When do I have to run my program?

    Each organization can run a Jr. WNBA program based on the schedule that best works for your organization. The curriculum is a guide that provides the lessons in the recommended order with approximate time estimates, but the elements of the curriculum can be run at your discretion.

    What are the organization’s responsibilities and expectations?

    As an organization, you should:

    • Complete the Belonging in Basketball Certification.
    • Recruit and register young girls ages 7-17 (or whichever age groups you serve) to participate in the program.
    • Recruit women volunteers to help facilitate the program if needed.
    • Run the program/utilize the Jr. WNBA Belonging in Basketball resources.

    What is the skill level of the curriculum?

    The curriculum is broken up into three age groups – 7-9, 10-12, 13-17 – and should be taught as it is instructed. However, there are recommended modifications and coach tips throughout if you have more advanced players in your program.

    If my organization doesn’t have any female volunteers, can we still run the program with male volunteers?

    We encourage your organization to actively recruit new female volunteers to participate in your program as the topics in the curriculum cover sensitive issues young girls face. However, the program can be conducted by male volunteers if your organization cannot get women volunteers to help facilitate. Please make sure that parents are made aware of and are comfortable with your male coaches delivering the topics that will be covered.