Hours before the Indiana Fever faced off against the Dallas Wings inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Aug. 14, the true heartbeat of the evening took center stage outdoors across Bicentennial Unity Plaza.
Scores of young girls laced up their sneakers, grabbed basketballs and took over the outdoor courts for “The Court Is Hers” Theme Night — a high-energy community activation hosted by Eli Lilly and Company in partnership with the Indiana Fever and the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. Now in its second year, the collaborative initiative aims to eliminate financial hurdles, waive program registration fees, and get young girls engaged in organized youth sports earlier in life.
The pregame atmosphere featured live youth basketball clinics, skill-development stations, interactive fan experiences and direct on-site registration tables allowing families to enroll in upcoming YMCA girls’ basketball leagues and clinics free of charge.
For community organizers and corporate leadership, the initiative addresses systemic disparities in youth athletic participation. National data indicates that girls drop out of organized sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14, with equipment costs, registration fees and limited female-focused community leagues acting as major deterrents. In Indiana, more than 75% of children do not meet recommended daily physical activity guidelines, and youth from lower-income households are six times more likely to miss out on organized sports entirely.
“Sports can be a powerful force in a girl’s life — not just for the joy of the game, but for the physical health, mental well-being, and lifelong confidence it helps build,” Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Consumer at Lilly Lina Polimeni said. “Through partnerships with the Indiana Fever and the YMCA, we are bringing those benefits directly into our neighborhoods, increasing access across Indianapolis, and ensuring every girl knows the court belongs to her.”
As the organization delivering on-the-ground basketball programming across Marion County, the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis has seen firsthand how removing registration fees creates immediate pathways for young athletes.
Since launching in 2025, the program has helped more than 1,000 girls play organized basketball for the first time, tripled participation in YMCA girls’ basketball clinics.
“Our mission is about creating an environment where every young girl feels welcomed, supported and empowered to develop fundamentals without financial constraints standing in the way,” Associate Sports Director for the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Janaule Young said. “When you get girls involved in sports at an early age, you’re teaching them teamwork, resilience, and leadership skills that stay with them long after the final buzzer.”
The unprecedented visibility of the Fever’s professional roster has added powerful momentum to the grassroots program, offering young athletes visible proof of where dedication to the game can lead.
“We’re proud to team up with Lilly and the Y to help more girls in Indianapolis get in the game,” Vice President of Marketing for the Indiana Fever Shayna Sangster said. “As a franchise rooted in this community, we know firsthand the transformative power of sport to build confidence and resilience. The Court Is Hers is about making sure girls know there is a permanent place for them on the court and beyond.”
On the court, the clinic’s energy was driven by young participants drilling layups, running fast breaks and learning defensive mechanics side by side with coaches and mentors.
As the Fever continue their regular season stretch, the long-term mission of The Court Is Hers remains anchored in empowering future generations of Hoosier leaders, students, and athletes.
“Coming out here and seeing everyone supporting girls playing basketball makes me feel like I can accomplish anything on the court,” youth participant Aliza said. “It makes you want to keep playing, keep practicing and get better every day.”
Families interested in learning more or registering for upcoming free YMCA girls’ basketball leagues can visit indymca.org/the-court-is-hers. Use the code “HERCOURT” to waive registration fees.
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
