Founder: Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir- Former Division I basketball player, Athletic Director at Pleasant View Islamic School of Memphis, TN, International Public Speaker, and Award Winning Children’s Book Author

About Me

In 2014, I was forced to choose between my passion and my faith. FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, had a rule banning any headgear larger than a sports headband. Without any insight, FIBA ultimately deemed my hijab a safety risk and aimed to keep the games religiously neutral. 

I was torn. Hijab, or Basketball?

After deep introspection and prayer, I chose faith and left my professional basketball career behind. I fought alongside the #FIBAAllowHijab campaign in support of other women and girls who looked like me, so that they wouldn't be forced to make the same decision I had to make. After three years of advocating and adding public pressure, in 2017, FIBA finally decided to change its ruling and allow hijab on the court. Not only did the rule change impact Muslim women, it also allowed Jewish and Sikh men to wear their religious head coverings during FIBA games as well.

Leading The Next Generation

Since making that decision in 2014, I knew that I wanted to give Muslim and non-Muslim women and girls alike the opportunity to practice their faith and pursue their passion for sports without having to make any compromises. With that, I became an international public/motivational speaker and started a non-profit organization called Muslim Girls Ball Too, where the focus is to provide Muslim women and girls with safe spaces to learn and enjoy sports without anyone telling us NO. 

Global Impact

I have been fortunate to travel the globe and share my experiences of faith and sports. I aim to educate, inspire, and motivate through my speaking and sporting events. Regardless of our backgrounds, beliefs, or faiths, we have all faced challenges that help us discover our true purpose. For me, this meant stepping away from the sport I cherished to pave the way for girls and women like myself who will follow. My overarching mission is to 'Dribble' down the barriers of exclusion and discrimination through the power of faith and sports.

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