Dear ,

As we continue through the holiday season, we sincerely hope that you and your families are enjoying this special time of year. With snow expected later tonight, winter has officially arrived—and with it, the most exciting part of our basketball season is just around the corner.

We are thrilled to remind everyone that the first games of the 2025–2026 WHGBL season will tip off on Sunday, January 4, 2026 🎉. Our coaches have been extremely encouraged by what they’ve seen during practices so far—enthusiasm is high, skills are developing, and the energy across all divisions has been outstanding. We cannot wait to transition from practices to game action.

This week’s eNewsletter includes important information about the remainder of December and the start of the January game season, so please read carefully.

👕 UNIFORMS

• Juniors & Seniors Divisions: Uniforms have arrived.

• Minors Division: Uniforms are expected just before the end of December.

Our Equipment Director, Rick Araya, is currently working to distribute uniforms and additional practice equipment to all Head Coaches this week in the Juniors and Seniors Divisions. Parents of players in the Juniors and Seniors Divisions should expect communication from their daughter’s Head Coach shortly regarding uniform distribution details.  Minors Division player parents will receive information about uniforms closer to year end.

📅 GAME SCHEDULES

We are happy to share that league game schedules are nearly complete and are expected to be released early next week.

To create the most balanced schedule possible, the league utilized:

• League Lobster for scheduling algorithms, and

• Artificial intelligence tools (ChatGPT and Copilot) to further refine home/away assignments, game times, and venues.

While no scheduling system is perfect, the league made every effort to ensure fairness and balance. Additionally, we carefully tried to work around conflicts for players who also compete with travel programs if possible.

This season’s schedule will include:

• Regular season games (either 8 or 9 games depending on Division)

• Consolation games (Juniors Division)

• Playoffs and Championship games (Juniors and Seniors Division)

• NEW opportunities, including:

  • Exhibition games vs. East Hartford (Juniors Division), Cromwell (all Divisions) and the West Hartford Magic Travel Teams (all Divisions)

  • Halftime exhibition scrimmages at:

    • Central Connecticut State University Women’s Basketball games (all Divisions)

    • Hall High School JV & Varsity games (Minors and Juniors Divisions)

    • Conard High School JV & Varsity games (Minors and Juniors Divisions)

We worked hard to involve as many WHGBL teams as possible in these exciting opportunities. In addition, once again, select Juniors and Seniors players will also compete in the Corpus Christi Middle School “February Frenzy” Tournament in Wethersfield, Connecticut, over the President's Day weekend (read more about "All-Star Teams" below).

⭐ ALL-STAR TEAMS

All-Star Teams will be formed for both the Juniors and Seniors Divisions to participate in:

• Exhibition games vs. the West Hartford Magic

• The Corpus Christi February Frenzy Tournament (expected February 11–15)

Players will be selected by their division’s Head Coaches. Parents will be contacted directly by their team’s Head Coach if their daughter is selected.

Important Dates for the All-Star Teams:

• Magic Exhibition Games (Juniors and Seniors Divisions): Saturday, January 24 (game times expected to be announced next week).  Games will be played at Sedgwick Middle School (game times still TBD).

• February Frenzy Tournament: expected February 11–15
  (Game times will be shared approximately 1–2 weeks prior to the tournament.)

📣 IMPORTANT REMINDER: PLAYER AVAILABILITY

Please remember to be respectful of coaches and teammates by communicating your daughter’s availability as early as possible.

Parents must use the “Availability System” on their team’s page on the WHGBL website to indicate whether their daughter will attend:

• Practices

• Games

• Other team activities

If you have questions about how to use this system, please contact your team’s Head Coach immediately.

📸 PHOTO DAY – SUNDAY, JANUARY 11

Our official League Photo Day will take place on Sunday, January 11.

• Bishop Photo is the official photography studio for the WHGBL

• Team photos will be taken 30 minutes before each team’s scheduled game

• All players are required to attend and participate in the team photo

• Individual photos will be taken immediately following team photos

• Parents wishing to purchase individual photo packages must pre-order online using the LEAGUE CODE WHGirlsBB2026

• See flyer below for more details

🏀 COACHES’ CORNER

WHGBL coaches use the league’s Rotation Sheet System to ensure players receive as equal playing time as possible.

To maximize development:

• Parents are encouraged to speak with their daughters about staying focused and attentive during practices

• Players who are disruptive, consistently late, or absent without notice may experience reduced practice or playing time

Please ensure your daughter understands and upholds our 10 Core Leadership Values, which are fundamental to our league philosophy.  Click here to read about our CORE LEADERSHIP VALUES.

⚖️ RULES REMINDER

Illegal Screens

Early in the season, one of the most common fouls—aside from traveling—is the illegal screen.

Key reminders:

• Players must stand still when setting a screen

• Arms must remain close to the body

• Players should not “chase the play” if the screen is not used properly

Parents and coaches are encouraged to review the instructional videos below that explain the do’s and don’ts of setting screens.

Click here:  FUNDAMENTALS OF A SCREEN - VIDEO 1

Click here:  FUNDAMENTALS OF A SCREEN - VIDEO 2

🔆 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

On the Court Basketball Academy

We are proud to recognize On the Court Basketball Academy, a Seniors Division team sponsor. On the Court provides personalized basketball skills training in West Hartford, focusing on dribbling, shooting, jumping, and overall player development.

Holiday Showcase Event:

• 📍 Sedgwick Middle School

• 📅 Monday & Tuesday, December 29–30

• ⏰ 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET

• 👧 Ages 11–15

• 💲 $50 per player

Participants will be placed on teams and compete in a round-robin tournament. Please see the flyer below for full details and to register.

💭 FINAL THOUGHTS

At WHGBL, our ultimate goal is for every player to have fun, build confidence, and learn the game of basketball—all while developing the 10 Core Leadership Values that extend far beyond the court.

Thank you for your continued support of the league. We wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and joyful remainder of the holiday season, and we look forward to seeing everyone in the gym very soon.

Take care,

Shawn Daly

"Teaching leadership skills through the fundamentals of basketball"