FOR GIRLS, BY GIRLS: CHICAGO BULLS AND GATORADE HOST 150 GIRLS FOR 2ND ANNUAL GIRLS’ DAY OF PLAY

FOR GIRLS, BY GIRLS: CHICAGO BULLS AND GATORADE HOST 150 GIRLS FOR 2ND ANNUAL GIRLS’ DAY OF PLAY

Former WNBA player Edniesha Curry and current Chicago Sky Guard Rachel Banham joined in to celebrate Women's History Month.

On Saturday, Mar. 1, the Chicago Bulls hosted their second annual Girls’ Day of Play, fueled by Gatorade, at the Advocate Center. This event served as the Bulls official kickoff to Women’s History Month, as they honored the achievements and contributions of women in sports and beyond. In welcoming over 150 girls from around Chicago, this event promotes increased access to sports and mentors for girls, fostering skill development on and off the court.

“Girls’ Day of Play is the perfect event to start off Women’s History Month because it celebrates women athletes and the lasting impact sports can have on a girl’s life,” Adrienne Scherenzel, Vice President of Community Engagement said. “We champion girls in sports not just in March, but throughout the year and equip them with the necessary tools to be successful in all areas of their life.”

Edniesha Curry, who is a former WNBA player and NBA assistant coach and current Head Coach for the U.S. Virgin Islands Men's National Team, gave a keynote address during the event. Edniesha inspired the girls to be their authentic selves and fight for what they want, on and off the court.

After the keynote the girls had a moment to re-energize with a warmup led by the Latina Sweat Project. A panel discussion followed, featuring Chicago Sky Guard Rachel Banham and former college athletes, including Scherenzel. Each panelist shared her experience as a woman in sports and gave advice for the young athletes.

The day was truly for girls, by girls. The youth basketball clinic was led by an all-female Bulls Youth Hoops coaching staff, guest DJ Ca$h Era played songs that inspired female empowerment, and the girls’ jerseys were designed by women on the Bulls Creative Services team.

Saturday’s event was the culmination of the Girls’ Coaching Cohort, fueled by Gatorade, which seeks to keep girls in sports by equipping Chicago-area coaches with the necessary tools, skills and programming for development both on and off the court. Coaches from the cohort invited their players to participate in the event and celebrate Women’s History Month.

Girls’ Day of Play fosters an inclusive environment that supports and encourages girls' athletic pursuits. Sports can have long-lasting impacts on youth and foster positive skill development and it is crucial to increase access to sports for girls, who often face barriers to playing. The Women’s Sports Foundation reports that that over two-thirds of women have faced barriers to full access in sports, yet the same amount believe they have carried the skills and lessons from sports into adulthood.

The Bulls recognize the power and long-lasting impact of sports and the importance of increasing access, especially for girls.

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