HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — A group of sixth and seventh-grade girls gathered in a Highlands Ranch middle school gym Thursday night with their coach, Tammy Neuhaus, who ran the drills she knows will build the foundations of many future basketball careers.
“We are a girl's competitive basketball club that serves Colorado, primarily south Denver,” she said about the youth team, part of the Colorado Basketball Club, which includes teams from middle to high school levels. “Just really trying to train kids up to learn to love the game of basketball and teach them how to play it the right way so they can be prepared for that next level.”
CBC has been coaching girls’ youth basketball for 15 years. Neuhaus said many of their players have gone on to enjoy successful high school – even college careers. A few of their former players are playing right now, in the women’s NCAA tournament.
“It’s a gift. It’s really a gift, some of these kids I’ve had,” she said. “To be part of their journey, watch them grow up, watch their love for the game.”
Neuhaus has watched the sport evolve and become so much more popular in recent years – with prime-time TV coverage, sell-out games and superstar players making headlines. On Saturday, CU Women’s Basketball will be in the national spotlight, a Sweet 16 rematch against Iowa – and the formidable player Caitlin Clark.
“Caitlin Clark is definitely a great player and has done well. But [CU] Coach [JR] Payne – has her team ready,” she said. “We’re rooting for them in every possible way to go make history for Colorado.”
Neuhaus said her middle school team will watch the Sweet 16 matchup. Some, like seventh-grader Braelyn Hills, have made their brackets for the women’s tournament and can name their favorite collegiate player.
“I am really excited about Saturday, definitely going to watch it,” Hills said, who listed Iowa’s Caitlin Clark as her favorite player, along with several other teammates.
“I think it’s really cool to see how women’s basketball is starting to grow more, it's inspiring other girls to be like her,” said seventh-grader Rowan Kohne.
“I was asking my dad today – was women’s basketball a thing when you guys were [younger]?” said fellow seventh-grader, Hannah Robberts. “He was like, "Well, people played it just no one paid attention to it.'”
Times have changed. These girls are growing up in the sport at a time when the women’s game is capturing a new wave of national attention.
“It is awesome! And about time, right?” said Neuhaus. “I think it really shows what women can do. It's more than just basketball. The role models they’re being, how they’re teaching other women, empowering other people to empower these young women to go do whatever they want to do. They can be whatever they want to be.”
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