Women's Team Launch Confirmed
In a big move for basketball in West Yorkshire, the West Yorkshire Hawks have confirmed the launch of a women’s team for the 24/25 season. This initiative aims to provide an elite platform for female basketball players across the county, aligning with the Hawks’ commitment to fostering community engagement through sport.
The new team will be a beacon for ambitious female athletes in West Yorkshire, offering them the opportunity to compete at a higher level. Integrating with students from the University of Huddersfield, the Hawks will utilise the university’s state-of-the-art facilities—the best in the county—for their weekly training sessions.
The 24/25 season will see the team engaging in a series of friendly matches against both local league and national league opponents. These games will prepare the squad for their ambitious plan to apply for entry into the national league for the 25/26 season. This move will mark the return of women’s national league basketball to the county for the first time in over a decade.
Mark Mills, Co-Founder of the Hawks, expressed his excitement about the expansion: “It is amazing to see our club being able to launch a women’s team in just our second year. We have been clear from day one that basketball is a powerful vehicle to help improve lives and communities and that we must strive to include all members of our community in our work. This announcement truly signals our and our partners’ commitment to this vision.”
The Hawks’ initiative has only been made possible through the support of the University of Huddersfield and a grant from the STADA Community Catalyst Fund. This fund, part of Thornton & Ross’s investment back into their communities, is designed to unleash creativity and passion to support local organisations in Huddersfield and build sustainable communities.
Sid Fletcher, Sports and Participation Manager at the University of Huddersfield, shared his enthusiasm: “”We are thrilled to partner with the West Yorkshire Hawks in launching the women’s team. This initiative aligns perfectly with the university’s commitment to promoting sports participation and excellence among all of our students. As part of our ‘play, compete, and perform’ strategy Women’s basketball is an important development priority and this initiative provides our students with a unique opportunity. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this team will have both on and off the court.”
The women’s team will tip off with six weekly open runs, free to all female basketball players. The first session is scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday, July 24th, at the University of Huddersfield. Interested players are encouraged to sign up through the form linked below: