On the beautiful grounds of Saint Mary's Hall in northern San Antonio, 90 young women are learning the game of basketball in a week long, all girls' camp sponsored by the Silver Stars. The camp is part of Spurs Sports and Entertainment's eight weeks of instruction provided to local area youth ages 8-18 from June 9 through August 8.
This particular Wednesday afternoon, smack dab in the middle of the WNBA season, all 90 of the girls attending Silver Stars camp were in for a treat. As they were immersed in their post-lunch 5-on-5 scrimmages, two Silver Stars players made their way into the building which houses both of Saint Mary's Hall's basketball courts.
From the hallway separating the two courts, center Ruth Riley and forward Sophia Young heard bouncing basketballs and squeaking sneakers from the young girls who awaited their basketball expertise and encouragement.
As the two role models were escorted into the bigger of the two gyms, heads began to turn and excitement began to build as the young girls realized they were in the presence of professional athletes. Whispers of "who's that" and "they must play for the Silver Stars" began to resonate throughout the warm gymnasium.
At the sound of a whistle, the scrimmaging came to an end and the girls were instructed to sit in an organized semicircle in front of one of the baskets. The camp's director gave Riley and Young a rousing introduction and the two began to address their attentive audience.
Shooting was the main topic of discussion throughout their allotted 30 minutes with the campers. Riley and Young went over the basics of shooting a basketball and then split the camp into groups to participate in a shooting competition where the first group to hit 10 jump shots from a designated spot on the floor won.
Riley and Young made their way around the gym rebounding for each group and encouraging the youngsters to keep their proper form even when shooting under pressure. After a few rounds of the competition were complete, the two Silver Stars fielded a wide variety of questions from the campers and signed autographs for all in attendance.
Questions were not only basketball related but also delved into the players personal lives such as what they enjoyed doing in their spare time and how tall they were. The campers looked up to them because they were professional athletes but Riley and Young represented much more than the ability to consistently put a ball through a hoop, they were role models for succeeding in life and obtaining an ultimate goal through hard work and determination.
Once Riley and Young were done signing autographs, they reminded their observers that they would see them again the next day. All of the girls at Silver Stars camp received tickets to see the team in action for an 11:30 a.m. special matchup vs. the Chicago Sky on July 24. As the two Silver Stars left the gym at Saint Mary's Hall, smiles were on the faces of every girl in attendance.
Although it was nice to receive an editorial on the art of shooting a basketball, the real lasting image that will remain with the female campers is the fact that they got to rub shoulders with two professional athletes who were down to earth and in tune with the opportunities that are available for the young girls once they grow up.
Whether the girls aspire to play in the WNBA or just relish the guidance of a role model, Riley and Young provided encouragement for the campers.
"These girls obviously look up to us and this is a wonderful opportunity for them to set dreams for themselves to become professional basketball players or just to learn some life lessons through sport," Riley said.
The Silver Stars take pride in getting involved with the young women in their community and an all girls' camp like the one at Saint Mary's Hall is valuable in the development of these females' lives.
Riley added, "I went to a few camps growing up but the WNBA wasn't an option when I was their age. That is what's great about this opportunity, we get to be involved in these girls' lives and let them know that whether it be sport or some other aspiration, there are wonderful opportunities once they get older."
Only time will tell if their message made a lasting impression on the female campers but rest assured that Riley, Young and the entire Silver Stars family are committed to San Antonio's youth and the enrichment of the lives of young girls in the community.
