Earlier this month saw the first ever amateur women's five-on-five basketball tournament take place at Shali Sports Life, held by Adriana Women’s Sports.
With the popularity of basketball on the rise in China, this two-day event, open to the public, was an exciting moment for women's basketball. It offered fans of the game a hard-fought tournament consisting of 18 teams from around the nation, showcasing the talents of 200 rising stars in women's basketball.
But while on the one hand consisting of a series of competitive playoff games in an elimination round format, the event was also proudly promoted under the banner of charging players to “Be Yourself.” And what better way to do that than through playing hard and having fun?
With players from a range of backgrounds and professions including finance, legal assistance and pet store ownership, the event was one big party just for amateur female ballers with a true passion for the sport. What brought these women from across the Middle Kingdom – as well as Sweden, Japan, Spain and Indonesia – to these courts in Shanghai was quite simply a love for the game.
And with the help of Shanghai Sharks MC Jayme Lawman (who also coaches Shanghai High School International Division's boys high basketball team, the Stallions), encouragement, belief and support was never in short supply.
After two days of teamwork, athleticism and shooting hoops, the tournament came to a close with a nailbiter of a final between Team Jamrosa from Jinan and Team Mars from Nanjing, with Jamrosa eventually taking home the first place trophy.
Jamrosa's Cai Xiaowen also picked up the MVP award.
Meanwhile, player Masami from Japan earned the "Best Sportswomanship" award. A mother of two, Masami is a role model for her teammates, as she manages to balance her busy life at home with her love and enjoyment for the game.
Watch some highlights from the tourney below (VPN off):
About Adriana Women's Sports
Founded in 2017, Adriana Women’s Sports is an organization that keenly understands those very standards with a focus on empowering women and girls to move beyond social constraints. They aim to support communities by providing access to sports and the development of a healthy and active lifestyle.
Cultivating sporting platforms for women and girls the world over, Adriana strives for these participants to succeed in a supporting environment through connection and education. And most importantly, Adriana allows hoops-loving women to shine.
Want to learn more? Scan the QR code below to find out more about Adriana.
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