The WNBA’s New York Liberty and their star player, Brooklynite Epiphany Prince, is teaming with the City’s Department of Youth And Community Development (DYCD) to form the Junior Liberty Basketball League to fill the gaps in publicly available organized athletic activities for high school-aged girls.
Hundreds of girls around New York City enrolled in The Junior Liberty League summer program, allowing them to play basketball, give back to the community and even meet current and former Liberty players.
“Growing up in Brooklyn, there weren’t many tournaments or leagues for girls to play in; I used to have to travel to Harlem or Queens to play, so to create a program like this is big,” said Prince, the Liberty’s shooting guard, who grew up in NYCHA’s Ingersoll Houses in Fort Greene.
“Unfortunately, where I grew up, there are not a lot of positive things to do, you can get caught up in so much negative. For the New York Liberty and DYCD to create this program, and for it to be something that we love too, that is important and I think it will help a lot of girls,” she added.
Participants from all five boroughs are taught to both strengthen their skills on the court and to do their part for the community. This includes a beautification project at MS 2 in Brooklyn, a garden project, a park clean-up and community space painting at the Williamsburg Community Center.
“We are delighted to partner with the New York Liberty and Madison Square Garden to create the Junior Liberty Basketball League Powered by DYCD, which will empower hundreds of young women across the City to play in an environment where strategy, competition and sportsmanship share the court with learning and community service.” said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong.
The Liberty will also host DYCD Night, this Saturday, August 15, against the Tulsa Shock. Participants from the summer league will get a chance to shoot baskets before and after the game at the world’s most famous arena as well as meet and hang out with Liberty players.
