Today we’d like to introduce you to Coach Sheika-Ann Ambatali.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am the owner and founder of All In Basketball Training (2016) and the commissioner for All In Basketball Women’s League (AIBWL) 2020.
Basketball is my first love and always has been. There is no other feeling than being able to play this sport. Being a woman, it was really difficult to find other women who play basketball. And if I did, we didn’t have enough of us to play a full-court 5×5 game so I usually played with and against men. It wasn’t until after I graduated college in Hawaii, that I was able to find a community of women who loved to hoop as much as I did. I didn’t know it back then but that’s actually where I was first introduced into that environment I could call my own and that nostalgic feeling eventually sparked my interest in creating a local women’s basketball league in California—created by a woman for women.
Having played in different women’s basketball leagues including co-ed, I just knew I could do it way better than anyone could have ever imagined it to be so I asked myself, “Why not, me? Why not start my own women’s basketball league?” And that was the beginning of it all.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As the commissioner, one obstacle that I experienced while creating this women’s basketball league was none other than when Covid-19 hit hard in the beginning of March of 2020. We had gained enough interest and momentum to start this league in January of 2020 with four teams ready to compete. When the coronavirus became a pandemic, we had to stop our season completely. We were at a standstill. I had poured all of my time, effort and money to make sure everything runs smooth — without any hiccups and then all of a sudden, we were forced to shut down.
I knew that we would eventually be back on the courts and that it would just take some time for this to pass. I remained patient and hopeful that I can continue pushing this dream into a reality because I knew that it was what we, women, needed in our community. We slowly started up again in 2021 with weekly open runs and training camps that would allow us to get back on the court and in game shape. I just held on strong and believed that we would eventually bounce back. With that mindset, we restarted our women’s basketball league in the summer of 2021 and continue to have seasonal leagues and weekly open runs for all women of all skills, levels and ages.
I love challenges because it helps me to grow and learn so whenever I am faced with a challenge, I embrace it fully. I am thankful for my passion in basketball because it has been such a wonderful sight to see all these women supporting and empowering other women through hoops. Basketball truly is more than just a game. It’s what brings all of us together.
As you know, we’re big fans of All In Basketball Women’s League. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
All In Basketball Women’s League was established in 2020 with the ultimate goal of closing the gender playing gap, one basketball game at a time. My vision was to provide a safe, fun and competitive space for women to play the sport they love while forming lasting friendships with other women in the community.
We provide weekly open runs to sharpen your basketball skills and shake off the rust but we also provide opportunities to play with a team against other teams in an official league. Local photographers and videographers are hired for our AIBWL media day to spotlight our players, which also happens to be the same day as opening tipoff. All players would have access to individual photos, team photos and still action shots along with a team highlight video reel and a player of the game video reel for each game. We also offer fun games such as a 3 point shooting contest and an all-star game during the season.
Social gatherings and community service events are scattered throughout the year so that our women’s hoop community can stay connected and give back to other local businesses and organizations. We pride ourselves in welcoming others with open arms because we all want to feel included. Basketball is our safe haven and we want to share that feeling of belonging with everyone.
What makes you happy?
My happy place is anywhere I can hoop. Basketball is therapeutic for me. It is my peace of mind. Basketball continues to be my sanctuary and provides the perfect outlet for me to release all of my stresses for the day in a productive and healthy way. If my day involves basketball then I know that it will be an extraordinary day.
Pricing:
- Team registration starts at $650/season
- Free agent registration starts at $90/player
Contact Info:
- Website: www.allinbasketball.com/aibwl
- Instagram: @allinbballwomensleague
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allinbballwomensleague
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aN32aQQj-fgBKoc-d3SZw
Image Credits
@deshieldstf @jaypeee_villareal
