Photo courtesy of the Chicago Bulls
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Chicago Bulls partnered with Gatorade to host the third annual Girls’ Day of Play, a women-led basketball clinic designed to empower young female athletes across Chicago.
Held Saturday at the Advocate Center, the Bulls’ practice facility on the city’s West Side, the invite-only event welcomed 150 young athletes from across the city for an afternoon centered on skill-building, mentorship and celebration of girls in sports.
The event was intentionally created for girls, by girls, featuring women athletes, coaches, panelists and music curated by a female DJ. The goal was to provide young athletes with an environment where they could develop their basketball skills while seeing women represented in leadership roles throughout the sport.
Throughout the afternoon, participants took part in a youth basketball clinic led by an all-female Bulls Youth Hoops coaching staff, where they practiced drills, teamwork and game fundamentals. The clinic also included a Hydration Break & Chat, fueled by Gatorade, which gave athletes time to recharge while learning how proper hydration supports athletic performance and overall health.
Music for the event was provided by DJ Hillery Banks, a 2026 Black History Month spotlight artist, whose upbeat set kept the energy high inside the training facility.
A highlight of the day was a panel discussion featuring former female college athletes representing the Bulls, Gatorade and the sports platform League of Their Own. During the discussion, panelists shared their personal journeys in sports, the challenges they faced as female athletes and the lessons they carried from the court into their careers and everyday lives.
The event also marked the culmination of the Girls Coaching Cohort, fueled by Gatorade, a year-long program designed to strengthen youth coaching for girls’ basketball. Fifty coaches participated in the initiative, attending workshops throughout the year focused on leadership development, athlete support and strategies for creating positive team environments for girls in sports.
As part of the program’s finale, the coaches invited their teams and players to participate in Girls’ Day of Play, putting their newly developed skills into practice during the clinic. The coaches were later recognized during the event for their progress in the program and presented with gifts and resources to support their continued coaching careers.
Leaders from the Bulls emphasized that the initiative reflects the organization’s commitment to expanding opportunities for girls in athletics.
Research consistently shows that participation in youth sports can have lasting benefits. Studies indicate that two-thirds of American adults who played girls’ and women’s sports between the ages of 5 and 26 say the skills and lessons they learned through athletics carried into adulthood, shaping their confidence, leadership abilities and teamwork skills later in life.
By hosting events like Girls’ Day of Play, the Bulls aim to help ensure that more young girls have access to those same opportunities.
Programs like the Girls Coaching Cohort were developed to address barriers that often limit participation in girls’ sports by equipping coaches with the training and resources needed to support athletes both on and off the court.
The initiative, now in its fifth year, continues to grow its impact by building a network of coaches dedicated to encouraging girls’ development through basketball.
For many of the young athletes who stepped onto the hardwood at the Advocate Center, the day was about more than just basketball. It was about seeing women leading drills, sharing stories and creating a space where girls could compete, learn and feel empowered.
As the Chicago Bulls continue their Women’s History Month programming, Girls’ Day of Play stands as a reminder of the powerful role sports can play in shaping confidence, leadership and opportunity for the next generation of young women.
