CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky is thrilled to announce it has joined forces with Flow Basketball Academy to create the Chicago Sky Basketball Academy.
The Flow Basketball Academy was founded in 2012 offering training classes, travel teams, camps and clinics for girls ages 9 to 18. The Academy focuses on building individual skills, basketball IQ, mental preparation and team connectedness in Chicago and the western suburbs. Flow grew over the last 10 years by commitment to a philosophy teaching core fundamentals, creativity, and craftiness through basketball. Flow athletes learn how to recognize choices, understand their strengths and weaknesses, make great decisions, and chart a path to self-improvement.
The Sky shares these values of inclusivity, personal growth, and teamwork through the love of the game. "We are honored to be partnering with Flow to create the Chicago Sky Basketball Academy. We believe that by using our voice and platform we can help develop, promote, and grow girls basketball for the betterment of our community, which is one of core values at the Sky," says Adam Fox, CEO of the Chicago Sky. "We respect how they teach and coach the entire student—on and off the court, physically and mentally, individually and as part of a team. Chicago Sky Basketball Academy welcomes athletes of all levels to grow their skills, confidence, strength, and discipline."
Chicago Sky Basketball Academy will continue be led by its founders: Korie Hlede and Margaret Stender. Hlede brings 11 years of experience playing professional basketball in the WNBA, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, Hungary, Croatia, and Russia and 15 years of coaching experience at all levels, including being an Assistant Coach for the Detroit Shock when they won the 2003 WNBA Championship.
Stender, in addition to being a minority owner and founding CEO of the WNBA's Chicago Sky, has 22 years' experience in business leadership at Quaker Oats Company and PepsiCo, where she served as President of both Juice Drinks and Ready-to-Eat Cereals. She's also a former three-sport student athlete and served as basketball team captain for 3 years at the University of Richmond.
This new partnership, with the help of Sky Cares Foundation and Michael G of the G Man Group, is also announcing the CSBA Scholarship Program. Chicago Sky Basketball Academy and the Chicago Sky strongly believe that passionate players should not be prevented from participating in travel, developmental basketball due to financial constraints.
The scholarships are for girls in grades 7-9 who love the game and aspire to be impact high school players. Ten (10) scholarships will be awarded for the Spring/Summer season (March to July). Online applications are being accepted now through Feb. 27 and scholarship recipients will be notified no later than March 2.
For more information, visit SkyBasketballAcademy.com .
