​On a notably chilly late-June morning, clusters of middle-school girls in pink, purple, and teal jerseys worked up a sweat along Riverside Avenue, standing out against the gray city streets as they competed in Spokane Hoopfest’s final day. Chris Ormsby, coach of the four-girl team Surge from Kitsap County, called the weather “cold, but good” and said the event has been fun. Downtown Spokane buzzed with 450 outdoor 3-on-3 courts for the world’s largest such tournament, with 12- and 13-year-old girls playing in the 108-bracket on Riverside and Lincoln.
Girls from Washington and Idaho gathered with a common aim: to win and to improve. Surge has played Spokane for three years, watching the competition grow tougher as the players age. Yet their shared goal remained simple: to go all the way. The team’s bond was evident in their pink and white tie-dye jerseys, each sporting playful nicknames—Rita Frohman’s read “Wreck It Rita,” a nod to the movie Wreck-It Ralph.
Sah’Mya Tucker, a member of SANE from Western Washington, explained that the outfits reflect the team’s call-and-response philosophy with her father, who also coaches. He shouts “Hard work,” and the players respond with “Dedication,” a motto that also appears on their jerseys alongside reminders of perseverance.
As the girls dashed across the court, calling for passes, they routinely spotted the team’s mottos—“Hard Work” and “Dedication”—reminding them that success comes through effort and commitment. While their ultimate goal was to win, their priority for many was simply to enjoy the game and play their best without fear of mistakes.
SANE’s hard work paid off with a victory over the Princesses, leaving the Hamilton, Washington, girls with bright smiles despite the loss. “When you’re about to lose, you have to keep your head up. Don’t give up at the end; keep trying until the end,” said 12-year-old Sloane Weston of the Princesses. Sloane’s father, Brad, has coached the team for four Hoop Fest seasons, and he spoke fondly of the experience of seeing girls compete at a high level. “I think girls’ basketball has taken a hit nationwide, but I love watching them out here, competing and getting better,” he said. Cimarron Waldo reported this piece for Teen Jo in a bid