Three women, one mission: changing the game

April 6, 2025. The sun rises over Sweet Waters, a township on the outskirts of Jo’burg, South Africa. Dust swirls in the air as children chase a makeshift ball down a field. On the West end of the continent in Côte d’Ivoire, young female athletes lace up their sneakers, preparing for a basketball training session that is about to shape their futures. Meanwhile, an industry veteran in New York City strategizes how to use sports to elevate athletes beyond the game.

For Thina, Kaly, and Chrysa, today is just another day in their lifelong mission: using sports as a tool for peace and social change. But there is another common thread in their work: inclusion and the fight to ensure that women, especially those from underserved communities, become LeadHERs and role models in sports for future generations.

Thina’s initiative in South Africa

At Thina’s workplace, the excitement is contagious. The children arrive, eyes wide with anticipation, playing with the racquets, soccer balls, and hoops at their disposal. For many of them, this space is more than just a place to play; it’s a refuge, a place to grow, and a chance to dream.

After an hour of running, jumping, and laughing, the children collapse onto the benches, their faces flushed with exertion and joy. Thina hands each of them a meal, knowing that proper nutrition is just as essential as physical activity in helping them thrive.

In many low-income communities in South Africa, physical health is not prioritized, leading to stress, anxiety, and isolation. “Sports can help heal,” Thina believes. “Not just physically, but mentally and socially too.”

As she watches the children play, she envisions a future where South African athletes dominate the field and are supported by a solid foundation from a young age, regardless of their background.

Kaly’s mission in Côte d’Ivoire

Over 5,000 kilometers away in Abidjan, Kaly Soro walks onto the court of the Abidjan Basketball Club (ABC), where young women are already practicing their drills. The heat is intense, but their determination is stronger.

Fighters Next Gen, Kaly and ABC’s latest initiative is designed to shape future female basketball stars on and off the court from two local underserving communities.

Too often, African women in sports have to fight against a system that doesn’t prioritize their development. Early pregnancies, financial struggles, and lack of access to quality training mean that many talented young girls never make it past their teenage years in sports. Kaly understands that sports alone won’t solve all these challenges, but she believes in its power to equip young women with the life skills they need to break cycles of poverty and exclusion.

“These young women don’t just need technical coaching; they need guidance, self-confidence, and opportunities,” she explains. “If we can help them navigate their transition into adulthood, we’re not just building athletes, we’re building future leaders.”

Chrysa’s vision for sports and social change

Meanwhile, in New York City, Chrysa Chin is on a call with a group of executives to discuss strategies for long-term player development. She has spent decades ensuring that athletes, especially emerging ones, have the resources to thrive beyond the court.

As “the mother figure behind the whole NBA engine,” Chrysa has worked tirelessly to increase women’s representation in sports leadership. The NBA has long been a male-dominated space, but through leadership programs, she has helped create more pathways for women to be part of the conversation

“You can’t just say you want diversity and equity in sports. You have to build the infrastructure for better inclusion.”

Today, she’s a mentor for the BAL x Speak Up Teaming Up mentorship program that addresses the critical need for increased representation of women in sports leadership in the rapidly growing ecosystem of African basketball.

“When young women see someone who looks like them succeeding, they believe it’s possible for themselves. To meet young women where they are and guide them ensures long-term authentic success.”

One day, one mission, endless impact

Across different continents, time zones, and generations, Thina, Kaly, and Chrysa are living proof that sports is more than just a game; it can be a tool for transformational and lasting social change.

From a dusty court in Sweet Waters to a boardroom in New York, their stories intertwine in a shared vision: a world where every child, every young woman, and every athlete has the chance to play, grow, and lead. Because when you give someone the power to play, you give them the power to dream, and the path to inspire others.