Why Our Girls Are Quitting Sports And How We Can Help Them Stay In The Game

Basketball programs changed the course of my life. I didn’t grow up with a ball in my hands. I was kicked out of gymnastics for being too tall, and my private school didn’t offer basketball to girls.

I didn’t know the rules when I entered my first high school tryout at 14. But what I did know—even back then—was that something inside me came alive when I stepped on that court.

And yet, decades later, despite all the progress we’ve made in women’s sports, far too many girls are still walking away from the game before they even have a chance to discover what it could mean for them.

The Dropout Problem: Why Girls Are Leaving Sports

By 14, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys. By 17, more than half are gone. This isn’t because girls don’t love the game, it’s not because they can’t compete, it’s because the system still isn’t built to support them. 

Here’s what we see:

• Lack of Role Models: Despite the rise in visibility, girls still struggle to see women in basketball roles beyond players—coaches, referees, and executives. They need those examples to believe it’s possible for them, too.
• Limited Access to Training: Too often, the boys get the prime gym time, the better coaching, and the assumption of potential. We need more programs for girls by people who understand what that means.
• Social Pressures and Stereotypes: At some point, girls start hearing the message that sports are optional and that their focus should shift to school, friends, or how they look. That message? It’s costing them confidence.
• Confidence Gap: This one hits home. I know what it feels like to walk into a gym and feel like you don’t belong. Girls question themselves far more than boys do—and they need environments that build them up, not break them down.
• Financial Barriers: Elite training, rep teams, and travel costs are steep. Families make tough choices, and too often, the girls are told no.

A Game-Changer: The WNBA Comes to Toronto

There’s never been a more electric time to be a young girl in basketball. With the WNBA officially launching a team in Toronto, we’re getting a pro franchise and a cultural shift. 

For the first time, girls in Canada can grow up watching hometown heroes compete at the highest level, right here in their backyard.

They’ll see sold-out arenas. They’ll wear jerseys with their city on the back. And they’ll start dreaming with more clarity and conviction than ever before.

This matters. The arrival of the Toronto Tempo, a WNBA team representing Toronto, sends a clear message: Women’s basketball is here, thriving, and only going up from here.

At Elite Camps, we already see the ripple effect: more girls showing up, more girls believing they belong in sports, and more parents and coaches asking, “What else can we do to support them?”

Why It Matters That Girls Stay in the Game

Because when they do, we all win.

• Confidence: The belief built through sport becomes a foundation for every area of life—school, friendships, and leadership.
• Community: Basketball isn’t just a game. It’s where girls build friendships, support systems, and a sense of belonging.
• Life Skills: Resilience, accountability, and teamwork. Girls who stay in sports grow into women who can navigate life with strength.
• Mental Health & Wellness: Sports give girls a place to let go, move, and reset. It’s not just about fitness—it’s about emotional health.

What We’re Doing at Elite Camps

This isn’t just a mission—it’s my life’s work.

• Programs Tailored to Girls: We design training environments where girls are seen, challenged, and encouraged to grow.
• Female Leadership: Girls need to see women in power. We prioritize hiring and mentoring female coaches and staff.
• Inclusive, Positive Culture: No cliques. No comparison. Just connection and growth. That’s how we build our programs.
• Financial Support: No athlete should miss out because of cost. We offer scholarships to help remove barriers.
• Parent and School Education: We equip the adults in our athletes’ lives to be their biggest champions on and off the court.

Keep Her in the Game—Here’s How

If you’re ready to help your daughter fall in love with the game—and stay in it—we’re here to support that journey every step of the way.

Explore Our Girls-Only Programs

At Elite Camps and Hoop Dreams Overnight, we offer dedicated girls-only basketball programs that provide high-level skill development, strong female role models, and a supportive community that builds confidence on and off the court.

• View Girls-Only Programs at Elite Camps
• Explore Girls’ Overnight Programs at Hoop Dreams

Books That Inspire Young Female Athletes

For your youngest female athletes, I created Girl Baller, a story about little girls who belong on the court and can do anything with effort and hard work.

For teens and parents navigating the journey of sports, Life is a Sport reminds them that ups and downs aren’t setbacks—they’re how we grow. 

It helps normalize the emotional rollercoaster of sports and gives families the tools to support each other.

Let’s give our girls the message they need to hear: You belong. You’re capable. And this game is yours too. Contact Elite Camps at (905) 326-9214 today to learn more.