“I Want to Change the Narrative of Women’s Basketball in Canada”: Examining a Women’s Semiprofessional Summer Basketball League Using LaVoi’s Ecological-Intersectional Model

The development of women’s professional and semiprofessional sport is currently experiencing a period of rapid growth, yet there is an absence of research exploring this development and the potential impact, particularly within the Canadian context. The purpose of the present research was to examine a women’s semiprofessional basketball league, the HoopQueens summer league , through the lens of LaVoi’s ecological-intersectional model to understand, across all levels of the ecosystem, what must be considered to create lasting change for women in sport. Interviews were conducted with players, coaches, and staff over the course of one season. The development of a new league, with the creation of a strong sense of sisterhood, professional development opportunities, and a strong leader, is having a positive impact on the participants and generating change for women’s sport within the Canadian sport system. Continuing to grow the league, to ensure greater media coverage, to engage with fans, as well as to generate additional revenue are areas that can be further explored for creating sustainable change.