Why Kim Caldwell, Lady Vols helping out at Girls Inc. basketball clinic

Posted by Admin November 7, 2024 Basketball

Lady Vols basketball coach Kim Caldwell is on board for the Girls Inc. basketball clinic.

The event was held for the first time last year when former Lady Vols star Nicky Anosike took over the nonprofit’s athletic program. This year the Lady Vols players will be there, too.

“I think we have a great group of young role models that can help shape the future,” Caldwell told Knox News. “Whether we’re doing it on the floor or off the floor, or going to Girls Inc, I think that’s part of our duty.”

The clinic takes place Sunday at Austin-East High School from 3:30-5 p.m. and costs $15 per participant. The event is open to players ages 5-13 only.

Registration is available here.

Anosike has been the Girls Inc. athletic director since August 2023, and her goal is to rebuild the athletic program that was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. She brought back softball in her first year, which was boosted by the Tennessee softball team volunteering to run the leagues in Oak Ridge.

Having the support from softball coach Karen Weekly and now Caldwell means a lot to Anosike.

“These are two of some of the most powerful women in sports in the state,” Anosike said. “So for a small nonprofit like Girls Inc. of the Tennessee Valley to have two of these women backing us, it means everything. They’re legitimizing our sports program, they’re legitimizing the importance of our girls, and they are ensuring that we’re seen. And sometimes that’s all it takes for these young girls, is to feel seen.”

Anosike is building the Girls Inc. athletic programs without participation fees. She doesn’t want any barriers for the girls at the nonprofit to play sports.

It has already helped grow the softball program. Anosike went from 40 participants last fall to 80 this fall. In the spring, more than 120 participated.

“Anytime you can help grow the game and help people find a love for basketball or sports that don’t have it, or maybe don’t have the resources to be able to do it on their own, I think that’s part of our platform is to give back to the basketball community, and she’s doing a great job with that. It’s a lot of hard work, but what she’s done is impressive,” Caldwell said.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.