Women's basketball is having a moment. WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are household names, more people watched this year's NCAA women's basketball championship game than the men's final, and the USA women's team captured the Olympic Gold.
Now, faculty, staff, and students have the chance to take to the court themselves with a new women's basketball league at CUIMC. Held at the recreational center in 50 Haven Ave., sessions take place on Thursday evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m., and all are welcome to join for practice, for pickup games, or to cheer on the players.
The group, organized by Yenthl Wheeler-Monestime, a senior program manager in the Department of Radiology at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, has been playing since the spring and growing as word of mouth spreads. The group offers a chance for colleagues to bond and de-stress, says Wheeler-Monestime, who started organizing games when the student protests over Gaza were at their height.
"I could feel just walking around campus and talking to my colleagues that so many people and their families were affected by what was going on," Wheeler-Monestime says. "I started holding open runs to give people an outlet and allow women from different cultures and different backgrounds to show up and be a part of something together in a safe space."
In the league, players do not belong to established teams but are organized into teams during each night's "open run" session. All Columbia ID holders are welcome to join the sessions, and the group often holds co-ed games when men show up to play. All players are welcome, including those who have little or no experience playing basketball.
"It's a really fun environment and everyone is just there to have a good time," Wheeler-Monestime says. "We have music playing and the goal is to inspire everyone."
Yenthl Wheeler-Monestime and Amadis Gonzales
Amadis Gonzales, a supervisor at the Haven Athletic Center, and George Torres, a manager, helped establish the women's basketball league alongside Wheeler-Monestime. The center also hosts numerous other activities, including badminton and pickle ball events, and features a pool, aerobics room, and a squash court, providing a variety of ways for the CUIMC community to stay active and connect with each other.
"We are thrilled to offer this new opportunity to our students, faculty, and staff," Gonzales says. "Our goal at the Haven Athletic Center is to create an environment where everyone can de-stress and recharge, as we all play critical roles in our fields. This league is just one more way we're supporting our community's well-being while also fostering teamwork and camaraderie."
Going forward, Wheeler-Monestime hopes to continue to grow participation in the league and organize extracurricular events, like happy hours and outings to New York Liberty games.
"Creating a space and an environment for women to know that they're welcome, no matter their race, no matter where they're from, has really helped out in every way," Wheeler-Monestime says. "We get down with everyone, and we support each other. It's really about community and sisterhood."
For Wheeler-Monestime, a former collegiate player who also plays in the New York Urban Professionals Basketball League, basketball is form of self-care.
"When I go out on the court, my little work stressors go away," Wheeler-Monestime says. "Basketball is kind of my therapy. It's part of who I am and what I'm passionate about."
References
Photos by Rudy Diaz/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
