LADIES WHO HOOP, INC.
EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE
INSPIRATION IN EVERYDAY PLAY
Ladies Who Hoop, Inc. (“LWH”) is a nonprofit organization that fosters community and empowerment through basketball, promoting equity and inclusion for women and girls of all ages. LWH is a global, multigenerational network connecting communities across the United States and around the world.
LADIES WHO HOOP, INC.
LWHStory
Founded in New York City to address longstanding gender disparities in athletics, Ladies Who Hoop, Inc. has grown into the largest women-centered basketball community of its kind, serving a diverse membership of youth and adult participants.
Despite meaningful progress in women’s sports, inequities in access to programming, funding, and safe recreational spaces persist. Rising costs and limited access to consistent, structured athletic opportunities continue to restrict participation and limit pathways for leadership development and community connection. LWH addresses these challenges through free, year-round programming, services and special events designed to promote physical fitness, wellness, diversity, social connection and community engagement.
Program offerings range from hosting the first competitive leagues founded and facilitated exclusively by and for women, to instructional programming that introduces (or reintroduces) women and girls to the game. LWH is also deeply committed to the advancement of emerging leaders through youth enrichment and professional development opportunities. By removing financial barriers, LWH creates safe, inclusive spaces that build confidence, foster well-being, and strengthen community - on and off the court.
Ladies Who Hoop has been featured in the The New York Times, Time Magazine, SLAM Magazine, the West Side Spirit/Our Town, on the Today Show, ESPN+, CBS News, PIX11 News, and NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show. Ladies Who Hoop was also highlighted in the City/Game exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, featured in two documentary films, and recognized by the Jackie Robinson Museum in the “Leveling the Playing Field: Women in Basketball” exhibition.
TEAM
LWH
OUR FOUNDER
For more than a decade, Amber Batchelor has worked at the intersection of women’s basketball, culture and community - building platforms and experiences that expand visibility, connection, and opportunity across the game. As the founder of Ladies Who Hoop, she has cultivated a global women’s basketball ecosystem that bridges sport, culture, and community engagement through programming and partnerships designed to create meaningful impact both on and beyond the court.
Her work has earned recognition from the New York City Council as a “Woman with Vision,” from People Magazine as an “American Doer,” and from The New York Times, as the “Mayor of Women’s Hoops” for her role in shaping and elevating women’s basketball community in New York City.
Amber’s experience spans nonprofit leadership, cultural consulting, media collaborations, and cross-industry partnerships within sports and entertainment. Most recently, she served as Basketball Consultant for Lincoln Center Theater’s critically acclaimed production FLEX - the first basketball-centered play presented on its stage - advising the cast and creative team on the authentic portrayal of the culture, movement, and dynamics of a high school girls’ basketball team. The production was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick.
Through her work, Amber continues to explore how women’s basketball can evolve not only as a sport, but as a powerful cultural and community-driven ecosystem.