Eagles have one eye on records as The Big One approaches

THERE’S never been a better time for girls and young women in the North East to realise their sporting dream and make basketball a big part of their life – on and off the court.

That’s the verdict of Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles guard Zoe Willis as attention turns to the most talked-about fixture of the season.

The Big One returns to the Vertu Motors Arena on Saturday when Sheffield Hatters visit Tyneside in the Women’s British Basketball League.

And once again the dual focus will be on bringing a record crowd through the doors and shining a light on the positivity underpinning the UK’S fastest-growing familyfriendly sport.

“We’re targeting the youth and the girls within our basketball community and showing them what’s possible when you become a part of this wonderful sport,” said Willis.

“All of us have been out in schools across Tyneside in the last few weeks, inspiring girls and getting them involved in training sessions.

“We want them to come along on Saturday, experience a great night and see what can be achieved.

“Newcastle is a great place to learn basketball, play basketball and watch basketball and we want girls and young women to know that.”

Willis is representative of a generation of British women who came to basketball in their teens – often only after being introduced to football or netball.

But ahead of The Big One she believes the North East’s next generation have never had it so good should they aspire to follow Matt Newby’s top-flight stars and shoot for the professional ranks or stay in the sport in a different role.

“I think when they see us play and they get involved in the STEM project – run by my team-mates Chloe [Gaynor] and Marina [Fernandez] the girls in this part of the world see basketball in a very different way,” added Willis.

“Basketball in education is a boom area. Even if girls don’t get on the court as much as we’d like then they can be actively involved in basketball-related activity off it.

“Sometimes I pop in towards the end of the STEM sessions and of course the kids are chasing autographs and wanting to play the game.

“But it allows them to see basketball from a different perspective and opens their eyes up to all the different aspects of the sport – not just playing.

“They’re always told about the next game and they always show up.

“The Big One is another fantastic opportunity to engage with the community and attract people to basketball who might not think it’s necessarily for them.”

Newcastle initially trailed The Big One in a bid to smash the overall attendance record at a domestic women’s basketball game.

And having achieved that feat, when more than 1,100 fans packed the VMA in 2022, the club brought the showpiece fixture back in 2023.

But if another bumper crowd is this week’s target then The Big One has become much numbers game.

“It really is about shining a light on women’s sport and it’s a great opportunity to show more and more people what’s going on here,” added Willis.

“How often do girls and young women get close to their sporting heroes or see their role models in the classroom and on the court?

“I would have loved that opportunity when I was at primary school and even later but basketball wasn’t on my radar as a teenager.

“The Big One’s about records and action at the highest level but it’s also about promoting life lessons, health, wellbeing and sense of community.

“Those are the messages local schools hear when we deliver Hoops For Health and the STEM programme and they are messages that can be reinforced this weekend.”

The Big One tips off at 7.30pm on Saturday.

For tickets visit boxoffice.newcastle-eagles.com more than

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Zoe Willis