Three of Sheffield Hatters’ players have been selected to feature in the first ever women’s All Star game for the Women’s British Basketball League.
Georgia Gayle, Emma Eichmeyer and Madison Washington were chosen to represent the North for the match this weekend.
Gayle, 26, said: “Everyone was excited for us. It is an honour to take part in the first All Star game in the WBBL and to share it with two of my teammates makes it even better. We get to play with all the best players in the league.”
The Hatters guard was voted by the fans to take part in the game and she had found out she was selected last month.
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She told Shefnews that she hopes that the game includes more team elements and is competitive, ‘unlike the NBA All Stars game’.
Looking ahead at her plan for the game, she said: “I’m not the type of player to showboat, I do the simple things and stay in my lane! But I’m here for the other women if they want to show out!”
The North team will face the South, which includes players from the WNBA, but Gayle does not see this as a disadvantage.
She said: “Their team is strong, but it’s what we play for, tough competition, no one wants to play easy games everyday.”
The WBBL introduced the game in its tenth year following an increase in popularity in the sport.
A recent survey from Basketball England found that 400,000 girls play basketball once a week.
However, Gayle believes more needs to be done for the future of basketball.
She said: “I think the future of the sport looks promising, but I wish it could get the recognition and backing it deserves like how football and netball get.”
Gayle was also selected to take part in the ‘Three-Point Shootout’ this weekend against a WNBA player and two players from the men’s league.
Despite the competition, she feels determined to stay focused and get up as many shots as she can to bring the trophy home.
The All-Star weekend is set to take place at London’s Copper Box Arena on March 17, 2024.
Tickets for the game can be bought here.