UEL hosts NBA Her Time to Play ahead of London Game
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Published
16 January 2026
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The University of East London this week hosted the NBA as part of Her Time to Play, a global programme focused on female empowerment and creating opportunities for women in sport and leadership.
The programme coincides with the NBA’s London Game, which returns for the first time since 2019 with a regular-season match between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic at The O2 on 18 January.
As part of Her Time to Play, UEL welcomed young women and girls to campus for a series of basketball clinics, giving participants the opportunity to train in a pro-style environment and develop their skills. The programme also featured a leadership panel, offering insight and advice for women interested in building careers across sport, leadership and the wider sports industry. The panel included Briann January, former WNBA player and current assistant coach with the Indiana Fever, and Lauren Dwyer, WNBA Director of Innovation and Growth.
Hilary Lissenden, UEL’s Executive Director, Sport Strategy & Growth, said,
This week has been about bringing our community together around basketball and recognising the NBA game taking place in London. From referee and coaching clinics to Her Time to Play sessions, we’ve been proud to welcome participants to our Olympic-standard facilities and create meaningful opportunities for community engagement, student experience and talent development.”
Across the UK, more than one million girls disengage from sport during their teenage years, with girls 22 per cent less likely than boys to participate in team sport. Enjoyment of PE also declines sharply, falling from 86 per cent in early childhood to 56 per cent by the ages of 14 and 15. Research highlights key barriers to participation for women and girls, including fear of judgement, low confidence and menstruation, with more than a third of girls avoiding sport at school because of their periods.
In addition to supporting global initiatives such as Her Time to Play, the University of East London delivers its own targeted programmes to address deep-rooted gender gaps in access, confidence and long-term participation in sport. One such initiative is Flete East London, a £1.2 million collaboration with Sport England, which supports under-represented young athletes aged 11 to 18 across East London.
Erik Brucker, NBA Operations, added,
“UEL is a fantastic hub for basketball in the UK, especially here in London. The facilities are outstanding, and the university’s investment in the sport is clear to see. When basketball is happening in London, UEL should be involved. They have been tremendous hosts, and we’re really grateful for the commitment UEL has shown to growing the game.”
Alongside national and international initiatives such as Her Time to Play, the activity forms part of the University of East London’s Year of Health, which highlights the university’s commitment to improving health outcomes through education, research and community engagement.
Through the Year of Health, UEL is focused on strengthening health education, developing the future workforce and delivering initiatives that address local inequalities, while creating meaningful opportunities for students to build skills, gain experience and improve employability.
Together, these programmes reflect UEL’s mission to create opportunity, build confidence and support the next generation of women in sport, leadership and health-related careers.
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