FIBA Women Leaders' Program Highlights Successful Initiatives by European Sportswomen

BERLIN (Germany) - The year 2026, initially anticipated to be significant for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany, has emerged as a pivotal year for FIBA’s Women in Basketball strategy. With over two months remaining in the year, this period has showcased initiatives led by former Serbian international Tina Krajisnik and former Montenegrin international Milica Jovanovic, whose projects for young women have gained recognition as models for implementation in any FIBA region worldwide.

Krajisnik and Jovanovic represented Europe at the recently concluded FIBA Women Leaders’ Program Supported by Molten, which took place during the Women's World Cup in Berlin. The program featured two participants from each FIBA region, selected in February, who participated in a four-day workshop focused on leadership.

Krajisnik’s initiative, Basketball is for Girls, aims to empower girls aged 7-18 through basketball and received the $7,000 grand prize. Krajisnik expressed confidence that the project establishes foundational support for young female athletes in Serbia. She emphasized the program's unique aspect of being designed and delivered by former and current female national team players, providing direct mentorship.

Jovanovic's project, Full Circle, addresses the retention challenges faced by young female players in basketball. Initially focused on schools and communities in Montenegro, she was surprised to discover that the issues she identified resonate globally.

Both women acknowledged the invaluable perspective gained from the FIBA and Molten program, which has inspired them to take their experiences beyond the basketball court. Krajisnik highlighted the life lessons learned through basketball, while Jovanovic described her experience as transformative, noting that it helped her refine her project and expand her network.

Both leaders are committed to continuing their initiatives and pursuing new projects. Krajisnik remarked on the responsibility current and former players have to give back and create opportunities for young girls. Jovanovic mentioned the integration of psychology, personal branding, and financial education into their programs, with aspirations to elevate their young participants to major competitions like EuroBasket and EuroLeague Women Final Six, showcasing potential career pathways in basketball.