Slamming sexism: Basketball stars inspire girls to take up the sport

England female basketball stars were joined by an NBA great to inspire young women to take up their sport.

Siobhan Prior and Georgia Jones were joined by three-time NBA champion Bruce Bowen at the Jr. NBA Girls Clinic, hosted at CitySport in Barbican on Monday, before a game at the O2 on Thursday between the Washington Wizards and the New York Knicks.

Prior and Jones, who were in the silver medal-winning England Women’s team at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year, want stereotypes around girls and sport to be broken down.

They said the number of girls who take up basketball or continue to play during their teens is affected by “societal expectations” of women.

Prior, who plays for the Nottingham Wild Cats, said girls are told from a young age they can “watch their boyfriends play, or sit and cheer in the crowd” but not that they can “go out there and fight” for sporting success.

She said having female role models such as her Team England squad would encourage more young people to pick up a basketball.

The Washington Wizards take on the New York Knicks in the NBA London Game 2019 presented by Norwegian at The O2 on Thursday January 17. Watch It live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports USA