The Atlanta Dream’s pursuit of the 2026 WNBA Finals is inspiring young girls to aspire for greatness on the basketball court. On Monday, the Atlanta Hawks held a Lady Ballers clinic aimed at boosting confidence and skills among female athletes, focusing on dribbling and shooting techniques.
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This clinic was part of the 12th annual Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA week, which also featured a subsequent clinic for young boys.
Eleven-year-old Aria Gupta, an enthusiastic fan of the Dream, expressed her excitement about the team’s success. "I'm excited that they've made it this far in the season. I love them so much. It's super inspirational for me," she stated. Aria has specific role models, mentioning, "I love Angel Reese. She's so awesome."
Former Atlanta Hawk Josh Powell participated in the clinic, noting the eagerness of the young girls to learn. He shared with CBS News Atlanta that teaching them can sometimes be easier than instructing young boys: "They soak up the game so well. It's just a beautiful thing. They don't have a problem asking questions."
For participants like Aria, the clinic serves as a reminder that the athletes they admire were once young players as well. "I can play basketball just like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. I can be like one of those cool ladies," she said.
While the Dream prepares for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in San Francisco, the journey for these aspiring Lady Ballers is just beginning.