Women's basketball at the 2006 Gay Games. Photo by Alice Cooperman.
The inaugural Girlz Got Game 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, set for July 26-27 inside the Billie Jean King Recreation Hall at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, is the first event of its kind that organizers hope will become an annual summertime tradition in Chicago.
And it's not because of the hoops action.
Yes, there will be plenty of net play. The tournament will feature about 25 five-person teams competing in four divisions, based on players' age. There also will be a three-point shooting contest with, hopefully, 35 local ballers competing, organizers said.
However, there will also be a two-day health fair, with free screening for HIV, diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, body mass index and more.
'We want to create a fun, safe environment for women to play basketball against other women and also have a chance for free health services,' said Anna Rainey, 24, of Chicago, one of the event's directors. 'People still are not getting tested, so they don't know their [ health ] status. We wanted to put two things together: basketball and a health fair.
'There are health fairs all the time; people often don't go just because it's a health fair. But, packaging [ the health fair ] around a women's basketball tournament will, hopefully, attract more people.'
Rainey, a lesbian, predicted that about 50 percent of the players will be lesbians, and that players will range from 18 to 60.
Although men will not be playing in the 2008 tournament, Rainey said men can get tested at the event. And the event's three-year plan does include expansion into a men's division. Plus, the long-term goal, she said, is to have regional events in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Chicago in 2009, with the national finals in Chicago.
'I can't encourage people enough to come out … watch the games, get tested and have fun,' Rainey said.
Admission is $5 for one day or $8 for both.
For more information, contact Rainey at 773-428-0095.
