Not sure what to get basketball players for Christmas? Finding the best basketball Christmas gifts can take some digging. And we know you don’t have as much time as Santa Claus’s number one helper. So we rounded up a list of a few of our favorites for you. We sampled some hoopers and checked online reviews to find the freshest gear, games, and more that everyone is coveting this year. Hope this helps make your holidays merry!

These recommendations come from first-hand experience: including basketball players with 25 years of hooping experience, 10 years of coaching experience, kids on elementary school and AAU teams, parents of high school hoopers, and just a pure love for the game.

Discover Some of the Best Basketball Christmas Gifts

From fun basketball card games to post-game snacks, and a tripod for recording workouts, get great ideas for holiday gifts. Find things to get hoopers for Christmas, perfect for kids, women, and men – and even some at low prices. And  check out W/NBA jerseys, tees, and hoodies on Fanatics.

Also if you’re looking for a fast unique gift, check out our fun printable basketball IQ card game (here for beginners and here for advanced), created in partnership with a Nike basketball trainer! And our printable basketball journal to encourage your basketball player to be reflective about their games and practices, create great goals, and improve.

1. Basketball Arcade Game

Go big or go home, they say! You can do both with the coolest indoor basketball arcade game by the OG hoops arcade game creator: Pop-A-Shot. This is a fun game for kids (and adult children – we all know one!) to challenge their friends and improve their shot, and probably the best gift a hooper can dream of. It comes with 4 basketballs and 10 game modes so there’s always another challenge to tackle. You have to assemble it which can be a bit of a pain. But once it’s together it’s sturdy, and it’s easy to pack away and store. Price: Currently on sale for $219.99

2. Basketball Shorts

One thing about hoopers: they’re going to play basketball – and they want to look good doing it. So you know they need gear year round. Luckily there are tons of cool basketball shorts great for hoopers of all ages. No matter their style, here are a few picks sure to bring a smile to their face this holiday season. Price: $65+

3. VKTRY Insoles

VKTRY Insoles are the perfect gift for hoopers this Christmas, as they are the only insoles proven to boost performance. Featuring a unique carbon fiber plate, the insoles flex and return energy every time you run or jump. Studies show an improvement to a player’s vertical leap by an average of 1.6 inches! Not only are there athletic benefits to VKTRY Insoles, but they are great for protecting against injuries to your feet and knees. If you suffer shin splints, or foot pain due to your playing schedule, they are a great option to keep you healthy through the season. VKTRY Insoles are on offer throughout November, so be sure to check them out at vktry.com.

4. Basketball T-shirts

Similarly, basketball tees make a great gift for basketball fans and players alike. Not only are they comfortable and versatile, but they also allow fans to proudly showcase their team spirit. With a vast array of designs featuring team logos, iconic moments, and player names and numbers, you can find a shirt tailored to your preferences. Plus, T-shirts are affordable, making them a budget-friendly option, and they serve as practical everyday wear, ensuring your gift won’t collect dust on a shelf. Here are some of our favorite shops to score big on cool tees (Price: $40+):

5. Basketball Socks

Hoopers go through socks like it’s their job. So while this might seem like a practical gift, it’s probably one they’ll be very grateful for. Plus, these Nike socks are great because they’re super comfortable and soft, and long lasting. The unique design offers a supportive fit and feel thanks to an arch band, while zonal cushioning helps absorb impact as you run the court. They’re available in many colors, but we’d recommend not getting white because they get dirty so fast. Alternatively you could get them socks with their favorite NBA or WNBA team on them from Fanatics! Price: $16+

6. EDGE Sneaker Grip Spray

Last year’s viral stocking stuffer sensation is back this year with their best deal ever. Relied on by top athletes, coaches, and trainers for a shoe grip advantage, EDGE Spray works by self-absorbing (no need for a towel!) right into your rubber soles for a 25%+ shoe grip advantage. And you can get 160+ uses per bottle. This link gives you an exclusive discount – as little as 20 cents per use for an entire year’s worth of EDGE Spray (make sure you use this link ONLY!).

7. WNBA or NBA Authentic Basketball

Make it easy for them to match the super stars! Use the same basketball as the pros and get in the game. The Wilson WNBA authentic indoor/outdoor basketball is perfect for any lady hooper. And the Wilson NBA official basketball is great for every NBA fan. Wilson even lets you customize their popular Evolution ball (in men’s size) with text, which can be a great way to ensure your gift recipient’s ball doesn’t get lost at the gym. Most importantly, remember to get the right size!! Kids size 5, women size 6, men size 7. Price: $44.95+

Alternatives: If you’re going for more of a basketball to be admired (rather than just to be played with), check to see if there are any new drops from round21. Either way, you should also consider picking up a ball pump. You wouldn’t believe how many times we’re on the court and have someone ask if we have one! Or for your hoopers with a green thumb scoop a basketball planter.

8. Agility Ladder for Footwork

Get a gift that will help them improve their game. This speed training ladder is great tool to improve quickness through accelerated foot strike and lift frequency. Using all sorts of creative drills, they can improve their acceleration, lateral speed and change of direction. The agility ladder comes with 12 durable plastic rungs, and the overall length is 20 feet. Here’s a helpful list of ladder drills for basketball to get them started. Price: $16.99

Alternative: Another option to help with their conditioning is a jump rope. While expensive, a Cross Rope is a nice investment because it’s weighted which makes it easy to use and provides a bit more of a workout. Or consider getting some agility hurdles for plyometrics which help with jumping and quickness.

9. Glass-Blown Christmas Ornament

This one’s for the hooper that already pretty much has it all: Give them a cool basketball Christmas ornament they can hang on the tree each year! These hand-crafted ornaments are made using age-old traditions, and are hand-painted and hand-glittered. This unique Christmas ornament will also sit upright on a flat surface so it can also go on the mantel or a side table as the perfect addition to Christmas décor. Price: $19.79

10. A Tripod

Many hoopers try to film their practice sessions to watch their technique and get better. Especially if they use apps like Nike’s Home Court, which lets you capture every shot, recording your misses, makes and more (the basic level is free by the way! I use it almost every day). While often times hoopers can use their phones to film, there’s not an easy way to get a good angle. A tripod can help them position their phone or camera to record everything. This tripod can extend up to 75 inches tall. Price: $29.89

11. Earbuds

Many basketball players like to listen to music before games and during individual practice sessions. These Beats Studio buds come in soft ear tip sizes, for a stable and comfortable fit, while ensuring an optimal acoustic seal. Price: $99.99

Alternatives: Apple Airpods are great if they’ve got an iPhone, and their noise cancellation is really strong so hoopers can lock in.

12. Mini Hoop

This Christmas basketball gift is a slam dunk. Get a fun mini 17″ mini-hoop with an audio electronic scoring basketball board. With this hoop which includes 3 batteries, a ball pump, and 3 rubber mini-basketballs, the score will be digitally calculated and automatically displayed. It’s extremely durable and designed with Non-Toxic ABS Plastic and lightweight metal for resistance against breakage. Plus it’s easy to put up on any door because thick foam strips provide protection from scratching and reduce noise. Price: $28.29

Alternatives: Launched earlier this year, the Huupe mini smart basketball hoop gives players all sorts of stats, lets them compete against people around the world, and is easy to setup. Right now it’s $200 off, at $599.

13. A Basketball Book

Find a great read for your favorite hooper to learn more about their favorite sport, get inspired by their favorite player, or develop their skills. To explore all things WNBA and women’s basketball, we recommend the gorgeously illustrated Hoop Muses. Price: $15.34. For ‘nerdier’ students of the game, we recommend How to Watch Basketball, a fascinating read that breaks down the history of the game and provides interesting perspectives from magicians, therapists, and more. For those looking to get motivated, we recommend Life in the G: Minor League Basketball and the Relentless Pursuit of the NBA. If your athlete is interested in developing their mental game, The Champion’s Mind can be a helpful resource. In terms of player books, the most recent launches from or about pro athletes include A’ja Wilson’s Dear Black Girls and Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion.

Alternatives: You can also check out the best basketball books for teenagers, NBA players that have books, basketball coloring books and the best women’s basketball books for more ideas.

14. New Basketball Shoes

Basketball shoes are an essential. And it’s quite possible an average player goes through a few pairs a year – especially if they play frequently on an outdoor court. However, admittedly, kicks might be a slightly harder gift to give if you don’t know the right size. The good news is that there are a ton of fun options for men and women inspired by some of the best WNBA and NBA players today. Here are our top picks:

15. Custom Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is crucial for hoopers, and a high-quality water bottle ensures your gift recipient can have quick and easy access to the refreshment they need during intense practices and games. You can even personalize a bottle with their name and/or number! Whether they’re hitting the court or simply heading to the gym, a water bottle is a gift that will help them perform at their best. Check out tons of options on Etsy. Price: $11.53+

Alternatives: Get a Stanley in their favorite color or a classic Gatorade squeeze water bottle (that’s what I use for my games).

16. Basketball Training Lessons

Basketball lessons can help every athlete improve their game. For in-person lessons in your area explore CoachUp. For online lessons, no matter where you’re located, enjoy online lessons from Steph Curry through MasterClass. This is something they can watch on the way to games or even in bed at night. Price: An annual MasterClass pass is $180 and includes all 17 of Steph’s videos

Alternatives: Well, not quite alternatives, but perhaps additions – we’ve created some helpful basketball training printable resources that I used in my basketball improvement journey. Your hooper might enjoy our basketball journal, basketball IQ game, dribbling drills, shooting drills, dribble log, and shooting log.

Get the Best Basketball Christmas Presents

I hope I saved you some time on your holiday shopping this year. If nothing has hit home just yet, shop even more basketball gifts for all occasions. As a bonus, if you purchase any gifts from Amazon or Etsy, they send us a little money back to help keep our WNBA reporting flowing – and it doesn’t cost you any more than it always would.

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Looking for how to watch the WNBA? Let’s go! You’re about to see some of the best women’s basketball on the planet. The WNBA’s 27^th season will include an all-time-high 40 games per team on national telecasts across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS Television Network, CBS Sports Network and NBA TV.

Though, between national games, local games, League Pass, and more, sometimes finding out where to watch a WNBA game can feel like solving a puzzle. 

So today, we’ll reveal all the ways to watch the WNBA on TV, online, or on the go. We’ll break down the best deals for streaming services that carry the WNBA, and show you how to watch your favorite WNBA team locally. Plus, we’ll provide a deep dive into the WNBA’s very own League Pass.

Spoiler alert: If you want to keep it simple, to see every game, buy YouTube TV (and watch 113 games on your computer, AppleTV, Chromecast, Roku, or Fire TV). If you want the best bargain while still seeing a good number of games, buy the League Pass offering access to 47 games (and watch on your computer, Apple TV or Chromecast).

Discover the WNBA League Pass 2024

The WNBA offers an official “League Pass” for watching games online, for the ridiculously low price of $34.99 a year. Here’s what the WNBA League Pass gets you:

Stream WNBA games: Watch games from all 12 teams live as they broadcast, or watch the recordings anytime after the game is over. League Pass offers 130 live season games for 2024. And hundreds of games from the 2015-2023 WNBA seasons on demand. However, some restrictions apply:

• Nationally televised games, as well as games broadcast on a local network in your area are on a “blackout” due to the terms of the WNBA’s broadcasting agreement.
• “Blackout” games are available to stream on League Pass after they air.

Relive classics: WNBA League Pass hosts recordings of all WNBA games going back to the 2015 season, available on demand.

Added perks: Being a League Pass subscriber also gets you other occasional perks, such as coupon codes for discounts at the WNBA store. 

League Pass is available to purchase on the WNBA website, and can be streamed in browser. You can also use League Pass on iOS or Android tablets and phones, as well as Apple TV or Chromecast – just download the WNBA App, and on your computer. However, WNBA League Pass is not currently available on the Roku or Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Don’t worry if you’re not looking to add another subscription service to your portfolio. In that case, there are also great options for catching free WNBA games streaming every season.

Where can I watch WNBA games online for free? 

Over the past few seasons, the WNBA has partnered with social media giants Twitter and Facebook to stream games for free on their platforms. These streams help introduce the WNBA to new fans, and help spark discussion about the WNBA in the replies and comments of the streams.

Explore free WNBA live streams

Here are three simple ways to free live stream the WNBA.

1. Twitter free WNBA streams

For the past three seasons, the WNBA has live-streamed select games through Twitter Sports directly on the Twitter platform. Find these games during the season on the @TwitterSports account.

In 2021, the WNBA and partner Twitter will continue to deliver programming to fans via alternative live streaming platforms. As Twitter and the WNBA enter the fifth year of their partnership, Twitter will offer a 12-game slate on #WNBATwitterLive, as well as real-time game highlights and post-game interviews. 

Highlights of Twitter content

• Twitter’s 12-game package, available via @WNBA, will feature in-game commentary from basketball insiders, influencers and WNBA legends.
• On Friday May 21, Twitter will deliver a matchup between the Atlanta Dream and the Indiana Fever (7 p.m. ET). Then on Tuesday, May 25, Twitter will spotlight the WNBA’s two most recent No. 1 overall draft selections when 2021 top pick Charli Collier and the Wings visit the Liberty and Sabrina Ionescu, the No. 1 pick in 2020 (7 p.m. ET).
• As part of the WNBA’s effort to bring fans closer to live game action, game presentations on Twitter will incorporate fan tweets as an overlay, polls for fans to vote on certain elements of the game, and real-time engagements with the commentators in unique ways.

2. Facebook free WNBA streams

In 2020, Facebook entered the fray as well, as the WNBA broadcast some games through their official Facebook page. Find these streams during the season on Facebook.

Facebook, now in its second straight year as a provider of WNBA game action, will present 20 games available on both Facebook Watch and Venues on Oculus Quest.

Highlights of Facebook Watch and Venues on Oculus Quest content

• Fifteen games prior to the in-season break and five when the league returns to action will be available on Facebook Watch via the WNBA Facebook page. The broadcasts will feature interactive elements that take advantage of the Facebook Watch social video platform.
• These same games will be available in 2D through Venues on Oculus Quest headsets (both Quest and Quest 2). 
• The schedule tips off on opening night, Friday, May 14, when it carries the Dallas Wings who will be in Los Angeles to meet the Sparks (10:30 p.m. ET).
• Coverage wraps up on Friday, Sept. 17, when Minnesota is at Indiana (7 p.m. ET).

But Twitter and Facebook streams only cover a handful of games every year to give people a taste of the WNBA. If you want the full experience, you’re going to have to turn on your TV.

What channels is the WNBA on?

It’s easier than ever to watch WNBA games on television, with national games broadcast on several networks almost nightly during the season. Here’s the upcoming 2024 WNBA schedule of nationally televised games.

The WNBA is currently on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, CBS Sports Network and Prime Video, TSN, and Sportsnet.

If you’re looking to follow your home-team more closely, check out our guide to local broadcast deals below!

Here’s how to watch the WNBA on TV

The WNBA appears on different channels, based on whether the games are nationally broadcast or locally broadcast. Here’s how to watch on channels that work for you.

Where to watch nationally broadcast WNBA games

Find nationally broadcast WNBA games in 2024 on:

• ABC
• CBS/CBS Sports Network
• ESPN/ESPN2

And download these networks’ apps to your mobile device, tablet, streaming device or smart TV. So you can watch no matter where you are. Just make sure you login using your cable provider account.

Where to watch WNBA games locally

While many WNBA games are now broadcast nationally, some are still exclusively available through local broadcasts or League Pass. Look for your team in this list to find out where you can catch WNBA games on local TV during the season: 

Atlanta Dream: The Dream’s local broadcast partner is WSB-TV. Watch their games on WSB-TV2, or the WSB Now app, available on most streaming devices. 

Chicago Sky: Fans in Chicago can watch the Sky on local channel WCIU. 

Connecticut Sun: The Connecticut Sun’s games are broadcast locally on NESN, or New England Sports Network. While some games are broadcast on sister network NESNplus.

Dallas Wings: The Dallas Wings have a broadcasting agreement with Fox Sports. Find their local games on FSSW, or Fox Sports Southwest, or on FSSW+. Just use the Fox Sports Go app and FoxSportsGo.com to stream all games on either channel.

Indiana Fever: The Fever’s local affiliate is Fox Sports Indiana, with games also broadcast online and in-app through Fox Sports Go. You can also catch games for free online, through the Fever Facebook page, or at FeverBasketball.com

Las Vegas Aces: Aces games are locally broadcast on MyLVTV, a local Sinclair Broadcast affiliate, as well as the STIRR, Sinclair’s app for most streaming devices.

Los Angeles Sparks: Spectrum SportsNet is the long-standing broadcast partner of the Sparks. Fans in LA can catch most Sparks game on Spectrum, or on the Spectrum SportsNet app.

Minnesota Lynx: The Lynx have partnered with Fox Sports North since their first year in the WNBA. Fans can catch games locally on Fox Sports North, Fox Sports North PLUS, or online/in-app with Fox Sports Go.

New York Liberty: If you’re a Liberty fan in New York, you can find their games on the YES Network, or, through the YES App on most streaming devices.

Phoenix Mercury: Fans in Phoenix can watch Diana Taurasi and the Mercury on Fox Sports Arizona. Games also available online and in-app through Fox Sports Go.

Seattle Storm: Are you a Seattle fan looking to watch the reigning champs defend their title next season? Storm games are broadcast locally in Seattle on JOEtv, a FOX affiliate. 

Washington Mystics: The Mystic’s local broadcast deal is split between Monument Sports Network and NBC Sports Washington. Both networks have apps available for streaming options. 

How to watch the WNBA without cable

If you’re a WNBA fan and a cable-cutter, no problem. We’ve got you covered with the best options for watching games completely online.

First off, make sure to grab WNBA League Pass, outlined in further detail above. It’s just $34.99 for the whole season, and will get you live broadcasts of any game that isn’t on a national network.

Then, nationally televised games can be watched by cable-cutters using one of the many streaming services now offering live TV, such as:

Just purchase these services at the links above. Any of them will get you national games on ESPN. However, of these four, only YouTube TV and AT&T TV Now carry ESPN, ABC, CBS Sports Network, and NBA TV. Meaning they’re the only two that will give you access to all nationally broadcast WNBA games. 

The WNBA is also now on Amazon! Amazon and the Women’s National Basketball Association just announced a multi-year agreement giving Prime Video exclusive global streaming rights to 16 WNBA games per season, as well as the Commissioner’s Cup Game.

WNBA-watching hacks and cheat codes

If you don’t have cable and are looking to save a quick buck while watching the WNBA, there are still plenty of good options for tuning in. 

• Ask friends: You could organize watch parties with other friends of yours who watch the WNBA using one of their TVs, or cable log ins for streaming. 
• Find a local bar: By the same token, you can go to a sports bar and ask the staff to turn on a channel showing the WNBA. This has the bonus of increasing exposure for the league, and helping you find other WNBA fans in your community. 
• Go-in on a subscription with family: Lastly, you can always borrow a cable or live streaming log-in from a friend or family member, or offer to go in on one with them.
• Buy tickets: Go to a game! You can easily purchase tickets from your team’s website or TicketMaster.

Enjoy watching WNBA games

We’ve covered every way to watch WNBA basketball during the regular season. And from League Pass, to catching local games, to streaming with your friends you have a lot of options.

Next, learn more about free agency to prepare for the upcoming season, or check out our guide to watching WNBA players play overseas.

The greatest scorers of all-time have a short memory. They believe their next shot is the best possible shot on the court and is going in even if the previous 10 have missed the mark. As an example, Gotham Chopra, the director of the documentary “Kobe Bryant’s Muse”, once told a story about being with Kobe and watching the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the Miami Heat play. Recounts Gotham, “Deron Williams went like 0-for-9. I was like, ‘Can you believe Deron Williams went 0-9?’ Kobe was like, ‘I would go 0-30 before I would go 0-9. 0-9 means you beat yourself, you psyched yourself out of the game, because Deron Williams can get more shots in the game. The only reason is because you’ve just now lost confidence in yourself.’

As Kobe’s quote highlights, a player who lacks confidence in their shot may hesitate or second-guess themselves, which can negatively impact their ability to get buckets consistently. On the other hand, a player with a high level of shooting confidence is more likely to take and make shots with conviction, which can lead to increased scoring and offensive efficiency. So today, we’re going to take a look at some fun basketball shooting drills that can build confidence.

Get a printable packet of effective shooting drills used by the pros.

Try fun basketball shooting drills to build confidence

So grab your best outdoor or indoor basketball and hit the court to try out these five drills today. (If you need a new ball, we recommend the Evolution – size 7 for men, 6 for women, 5 for kids.) Keep track of how you do with each drill below (one of the best basketball apps – Nike’s Homecourt can easily help you track your makes and misses on every shot – and the basic level is free!) so you can see your progression over time. Over the course of completing these drills you’ll build confidence off the catch, off the dribble, and in game-like scenarios with quick decision making. Let’s get after it.

1. Precision rim drill

This drill is pretty fun and will quickly prove to you how precise you can make your shot! Basically you can pick any spot to shoot from, and shoot off the catch. You’re going to do one shot where you hit the front of the rim, one where you hit the back of the rim, one where you hit the right side of the rim, and one where you hit the left side of the rim. It’s OK if the ball doesn’t go in the basket: in fact it probably won’t. Your goal is just to hit that specific rim spot. Count your shots to see how many it takes you to get all 4 spots. Then try to beat it with fewer shots the next time. For strong shooters, we recommend doing this drill from a few spots behind the three. For everyone else, try this at a few mid-range spots. If you can hit all 4 spots exactly, surely you can place the ball in the net! This drill can be done with a partner or solo.

2. Decreasing shots 3-point drill

For this drill you’re going to shoot off the catch from behind the three-point line at five different spots. Starting in a corner, you need to make 5 shots in a row. Once you do that, you move to the next spot and make 4 shots in a row. Then 3 shots in a row, 2 shots in a row, and so on, until you’re making just 1 shot at the last spot. Time yourself and see if you can beat 2 minutes if you have a partner rebounding for you, or 4 minutes if you’re rebounding for yourself. The fastest we’ve seen this done so far is 35 seconds with a partner. If you can make 5 shots in a row from a hard angle like a corner, 1 shot anytime from anywhere should be easy! As always, if you’re a beginner, you can try this same drill from mid-range.

3. 5 spots 5 shots drill

OK now you’re going to get some reps in, and build confidence through consistent movement and wracking up points. For this drill, we’ll use the same 5 spots behind the three-line. At each spot, you’re just taking 5 shots off the catch. If you miss any, take note of your self-talk, and ensure it’s staying positive and you’re visualizing success. Even the best shooters in the world miss shots! Former NBA player and coach Steve Kerr said, “Most guys go 0 for 5 and they go, ‘Oh my God, I may never make a shot again. If Steph [Curry] misses five in a row or 10 in a row, it doesn’t faze him. It’s one of the things that makes him great.” See if you can not miss more than one, and get right back into it. If you’re a beginner, you can do this same drill from mid-range. For this drill just track how many makes you have. Next time, try to beat that. This drill can be done with a partner or solo.

4. 5 spots 3 shots movement drill

While the other drills have been off the catch with a partner throwing a ball to you, or you throwing one to yourself, on this drill you’re going to get to take a dribble. Now that you’ve had a chance to perfect your form and get in the flow, this drill will help you build confidence in your shot off the dribble. NBA Master Trainer who works with tons of athletes from Klutch Sports, Chris Johnson, uses this drill often. From 5 spots behind the three, you’re going to do a one dribble pull-up to the right, a catch and shoot, and a one-dribble pull up to the left. It’s OK to step into mid-range distance on your one dribble pull-ups. Similar to the last drill just track how many makes you have. Next time, try to beat that. This drill can be done with a partner rebounding or solo.

If you’re not sure what a one dribble pull-up is, watch this video:

5. Defensive reaction threes

OK now that you’ve built your confidence off the catch and off the dribble, it’s time to work on decision making in a game-like scenario. For this drill your defender is going to start about mid-way up the lane. The shooter is going to start at the three with their back to the basket. Whenever the shooter decides to go, they jump and turn around. As soon as the defender sees the shooter move, the play is live. The defender’s goal is to get out to the shooter and block the shot and play defense to not let them score. The shooter’s goal is to read how the defense is playing you, and get off a quick shot, or decide their close out is too effective, and instead dribble and get to the basket. The only rule is the shooter has to do something right away after turning. If you pause for too long, it’s a turn over and the defense gets the ball. Play this drill make it take it, and see who can get to 5 points first.

Enjoy the best basketball shooting drills for building confidence

As former WNBA player and coach Lindsay Whalen shared, “Shooting is all about confidence. When you have confidence, you’re going to make shots. When you don’t have confidence, you’re going to miss shots. It’s that simple.” And after today’s practice, you’ve laid the building blocks for growing your confidence. Great work! Up next, explore shooting drills for a quick release and shooting drills for increasing your range.

Welcome to the HOOPS REALM, where court is always in session. Explore the leading destination for modern basketball fashion, drills, and stories. Grow your game on the court and off.

Queen Ballers Club shows love for the game to inspire the next generation of hoopers. We break down the details, revealing the how behind the highlights, and telling timeless stories about the players in the most elite women’s basketball leagues: the WNBA, USA Basketball, Athletes Unlimited, and more.

Queen Ballers Club was founded to inspire the next generation of hoopers and fans through innovative basketball storytelling and commerce – with a focus on pro women’s basketball queens.

Please consider supporting our efforts. There are a few ways you can help:

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If you love women’s sports as much as we do, we want to be sure you know about all the awesome teams in our news league. Here are some other great sports coverage websites to check out:

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Nneka Ogwumike and the WNPBA said, it’s time to “Bet on Women.” So today’s the day to learn all about WNBA betting, and how to bet on the WNBA. We’ll share the steps to get started, common betting terms to know, and what WNBA betting platforms there are. Then, we’ll dive into some WNBA tips, and places to look for the latest news and expert predictions. And maybe soon, this will be you.

“If the pandemic showed us anything, it’s that people are going to bet on just about anything. I remember I was listening to a podcast, and they were saying people were betting on darts, which I didn’t even know was a thing.” said former Washington Mystics No 2. WNBA draft pick Marissa Coleman. 

“So I think the W and women’s sports as a whole should really lean into sports betting. It’s a way to bring visibility, to perhaps get a new audience that otherwise would be untapped.” she continued.

However we’d like to remind you to please be sure to set a deposit limit and consider what you’re prepared to lose before betting.

How to bet on the WNBA

First up, you can find out if sports betting is legal in your state with this handy map. If it’s legal in your state, up next, just pick a platform. Many are online or have apps.

WNBA betting platforms

Sports betting platforms that currently have partnerships with the WNBA are PointsBet, FanDuel, and BetMGM. And in July of 2021, Bally’s signed a 15-year deal with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury to become the team’s exclusive sports betting sponsor. 

You can bet the WNBA on DraftKings, Unibet, William Hill, and 888sport as well. We’ve found FanDuel’s interface to be the most user friendly and easy to use.

To place bets at any sportsbook, just select the WNBA from their menu and search for the game or market you want to bet. From there, select the wager to add it to your bet card and enter the amount of money you want to risk. After that, you’ll get a receipt or e-ticket for your bet, showing you the odds you bet and the amount you can win.

WNBA betting lines

You can see current WNBA odds and betting lines across a ton of sportsbooks here. There are three main ways to bet on a single basketball game that nearly every sportsbook offers for the WNBA.

1. Money line

For this bet you pick the winner of the game. Moneyline bets on favorite teams are much more likely to win than those on underdogs. Because of that, the favorite’s odds have a minus sign. The underdog’s odds occasionally also have a minus sign if the game is expected to be close, but generally they have a plus sign.

The way the odds (the pluses and minuses you see in a sportsbook) work for moneylines also applies to almost all other types of bets. A minus number means that you have to bet that amount to win $100. Plus odds work the opposite way — you have to bet $100 to win that amount.

These odds work proportionally, so you don’t need to bet that exact amount. Instead of betting $100 on a team to win $200, for example, you can bet $1 to win $2 or $1,000 to win $2,000.

2. Point spread betting

The point spread is popular to bet because it levels the difference in skill between the two teams. The point spread is the number of points that a team is predicted to win or lose by. Basically these are bets on a certain team to win after a handicap is applied to their point total.

The sportsbook sets a line, which is the number of points the better team is favored to win. Then, you can bet on that team to win either by more than that many points, or by fewer than that many. The favorite team get the negative value, and the underdog has the positive value.

The amount of money returned for these bets is determined by the odds attached to them. And unlike with money lines, the odds are typically the same for both sides. It can vary but by far the most common odds for ATS bets are -110. 

When neither team covers the spread the result is a push. A push is the result of a tie between the bettor and the sportsbook, and basically just means you’ll get your money back.

Still confused? Learn about the point spread here.

3. Point totals (over/under)

This is a bet on the total number of points scored between the two teams. The sportsbooks will set a number as the “over/under” for the game, and you just pick whether the final score will go over or under that number.

Sportsbooks will attach odds to both the over and the under to determine how much the bets will pay out, and also like ATS bets, these odds are typically around -110 each way.

There are also parlays. Parlays are when you string together bets to increase winnings. In order to win your parlay, you need to accurately make multiple winning picks. By combining several bets into a parlay, the chances of winning are less, but the rewards are much greater if you pick correctly. Since there aren’t as many betting types offered by sportsbooks for the WNBA as other sports yet, this option will probably be a bit less common for you.

How to bet on the WNBA Draft

Lots of folks enjoy betting on the WNBA Draft too, which is upcoming in April. Here are a few ways you can participate.

1. Prop bet on No. 1 pick

As always, there will be a lot of speculation about who goes number one. You can throw your hat in the ring on this one by picking your favorite player to head to the Mystics this year. Typically you can do these types of props for picks 1-5.

2. Over/under on forwards/guards drafted in Round 1

For this prop you’re just deciding how many players in each position will be drafted in the first round. Keep in mind the first round has just 12 picks total.

How to bet on the WNBA Finals (futures)

There are also a few types of bets specific to certain series or games in the WNBA, such as the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, the All-Star Game and the Finals. Here are a few terms to know.

1. Half and quarter score totals moneyline

Quarter betting: Prior to each quarter, bettors can wager on reduced game total odds plus which side will win each frame with reduced point spreads and moneylines. 

Halftime betting: Bettors can wager on the first-half results prior to a game and all bets are settled when the contest reaches halftime. While the opening half plays out, and during the intermission, sportsbooks offer live odds based on second half results only. Again, moneylines, totals and point spreads can be bet on.

2. Series money lines

This is when sportsbooks offer moneylines on the series winner. For example for the series winner of the WNBA Finals. Some books allow you to cash out your bet for the current value partway through.

3. Finals MVP

You can bet on who will be chosen as Most Valuable Player before the season even begins –  typically in the week leading up to the regular season. Basically sportsbooks offer money lines on the league MVP. WNBA MVP odds adjust each week throughout the regular season.

4. Total games played

Total games played during the Finals is just another over/under. The bettor is simply wagering on the number of games played.

5. Even more

Sometimes sportsbooks will open up even more ways to participate such as odd or even score, winning margin, or number of games until victory. They also might list player or team prop bets. Such as the first player to hit a field goal or last team to score.

Some more key WNBA betting terms to know:

• Action: A bet or a wager.
• Favorite: The team favored to win a game.
• Futures: Futures bets are long-running betting markets focused on overall results for a team or player. Basically this is a wager that won’t be decided for a long time.
• Handle: The total amount of money wagered on a WNBA game.
• In-game wagers: Bets made after a game started.
• No action: A game that is no longer taking bets and all wagers are refunded.
• Push: A push is the result of a tie between the bettor and the sportsbook, and basically just means you’ll get your money back.
• Sportsbook: The place where you can bet on the outcome of the WNBA game/s.
• Underdog: The team not favored to win a game.
• Wager: A bet placed at a sportsbook.

You can use OddsSharks’ odds calculator tool to find out how much you could stand to win and the payout you’d receive.

WNBA betting tips

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you bet the WNBA.

1. Bet with “the public.”

Don’t bet against popular public opinion recommends Action Network. While this strategy can work for other leagues, it does not work as well in the WNBA because there are not enough casual bettors to influence the line.

2. Bet the under if both teams just beat the total.

Bet the under, when both teams have gone over the total in their previous game. This has proven to be profitable for the WNBA.

However, certain WNBA teams in the past have tended to continue hitting the over for extended periods. For example, the Seattle Storm went over the total seven times in their final ten games en route to winning the 2020 WNBA Championships, reports SportsBettingDime.

3. Find value on underdogs.

Big underdogs have historically been undervalued in the WNBA and perform remarkably well against the spread, especially when playing on the road, reports SportsBettingDime. This presents an opportunity to buy low.

4. Stay on Twitter right until tip off.

Because players can and will be pulled from the starting lineup all the way up until the actual start of the game, it’s important to know the line up. Pay attention to social media to catch the journalists tweeting coming out of pre-game press conferences. You can follow our Twitter here. And here are some great reporters:

5. Know the WNBA schedule.

Be aware when teams are on the road and in a series. Players can be tired from travel or team’s being short-handed, and excessive playtime can directly impact the outcome of a game. Pay attention to scheduling, travel distance, and home/road advantages.

6. Know the refs

Because referees significantly impact games’ outcomes, specifically the Over/Under totals, it’s a good idea to try to find out who’s assigned to which games. You can follow referees with one-sided tendencies to the Over and Under, as some refs will call more fouls than others. Those whistles result in foul shots, which means teams are scoring points with the clock stopped – a big boost for Over backers, says Covers.

7. Narrow it down to the last 3 games

Sports betting expert Hakeem Profit on WagerTalk TV says for someone who’s newer to capping, it might be easier to cap the WNBA because there’s less teams. He recommends you look at how teams are doing recently, and narrow it down to the last 3 games. Look at how teams are doing road and home splits. Trends last 5 games, last 10 games. Have a lot of issues with travel or have to take the bus so follow the beat writers to get the inside information.

8. WNBA MVPs tend to spend time in a “big” position

The MVP award has historically most often been given to forward/center players. The only point guards to win are Cynthia Cooper and Diana Taurasi. Also no player representing a team with a regular-season losing record has ever been named MVP.

Discover WNBA betting experts

Great resources beyond Queen Ballers Club to inform your WNBA betting predictions include these expert sources:

Explore WNBA betting forums

Here are a few forums where you can find helpful information for WNBA betting:

• WNBA Twitter: These are some passionate W reporters and fans who share the latest breaking news and articles.
• WNBA Reddit: With 11K followers, this community shares the latest articles and videos about the WNBA.
• WNBA is Life: This Facebook group has frequent updates about the latest league happenings. Fans share anything and everything celebrating the love they have for the W.

WNBA betting trends and predictions

Check out Covers for ongoing WNBA season trends.

Free Agency predictions

Gaming Society shared that Liz Cambage’s current odds are super telling because her odds were the only ones that did not favor a return to her current team!

Odds: Los Angeles Sparks +130 (bet $100 → $130), New York Liberty +160, Seattle Storm +500, Las Vegas Aces +600, Field +350 

WNBA Championship odds

Here are a few key trend insights from SportsBettingsDime to consider for WNBA Championship futures:

• In 24 years of competition, only four WNBA teams who finished as a championship runner-up have gone on to win it all the next year.
• Seven of the past ten WNBA champions finished the regular season at the top of the league.
• Of the past 12 WNBA seasons, the Western Conference has been dominant, winning ten of the available championships.
• Only one team has won their first WNBA title in franchise history over the past eight years: the Washington Mystics in 2019.

The 2022 WNBA draft lottery’s impact on WNBA Championship futures: While there wasn’t a huge shift after the draft lottery, there was a reflection of that fact that DC and Mike Thibault are looking to win a Championship this year, while being awarded the No. 1 WNBA Draft pick. The Mystics opened the day with odds ranging from +1800 at Caesars Sportsbook to +3000 at FanDuel Sportsbook, Bet-Her reports. Those odds were either the seventh-shortest or tied for the seventh-shortest at all books. Within hours of Natasha Cloud landing the top pick in the 2022 draft for Washington DC, FanDuel moved its line to +2500. DraftKings updated its odds to +2500 later in the day.

Prior to the season starting, here are FanDuel’s 2022 WNBA Championship odds:

We’ll take just one as an example (FanDuel) and break it down for you so you can decide which bet to make, if any. Basically the rule of thumb is you should place your bet if you think a team’s chances at winning the Title are much higher than the oddsmakers think they are, not just slightly higher.

Also we always pick a standard amount to wager (we typically do $10 for all bets, and occasionally $30 for ones where we feel strongly). But for the sake of this example, we’ll use $100 as our wager.

First, we look at the implied probability. The implied probability is calculated by dividing the bet by the payout (including the return of original bet). So for the Aces, we’re looking at $100/$475. Then we identify the true probability, which can be calculated by dividing the implied probability by the total of the implied probabilities (in this example 117.85%). So for the Aces, it’s 22.2%/117.85%. So you would only want to bet on the Aces if you think they have significantly more than a 19% shot at winning it all.

And here are PointsBets outrights:

And DraftKings Championship futures:

Why start betting on the WNBA?

Today sportsbooks are still often neglecting the league to the point where their lines and odds are inefficient and exploitable, reports Just Women’s Sports. But in the next couple of years the tide could turn. In the meantime, for the WNBA, it can still take hours for sportsbooks to account for injury updates.

Players as impactful as Sylvia Fowles, Brittney Griner, and Candace Parker have all had updates to their status at some point without the spread of their game changing for a good chunk of the day. This leaves you with a window to bet on their team if they are declared healthy or to bet on their opponent if they are ruled out.

One infamous example from 2021 was what happened with the WNBA All-Star game.

WNBA All-Star game points spread

The over/under total on the 2021 WNBA All-Star Game moved 53-points, a historic line movement on a number that Matt Metcalf, sportsbook director for Circa Sports, calls the “worst I ever made.” The movement was the largest shift that multiple veteran bookmakers could ever recall.

It wasn’t caused by any attempt at corruption or by a rush of big wagers. Instead, it was a mistake by an oddsmaker who was short on time. Matt said he didn’t take into account that WNBA All-Stars were facing the U.S. women’s national team, which was tuning up for the Olympics and took the game more seriously than traditional high-scoring All-Star Games that are often played with reduced defense.

Can we expect mistakes that big this year? Probably not, but there could still be opportunity.

WNBA betting can grow the game

With more people locked in to happenings in the league because they have a stake in the games, the game can grow. And growing the game is important.

“This is not just about business. This is deeply personal. This is about the kind of world we want to live in. I am an elite athlete. I am an MVP. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a No. 1 draft pick. I am a WNBA player and I am the president of the WNBPA. And I want young female athletes to dream about playing in a vibrant and thriving WNBA. I want them to dream of having it all.” said Nneka.

Up next, learn all about the latest in possible WNBA expansion.

Find the best entry level sports jobs available every week! We’ll post a few of our favorites to check out – so you can stay connected to the game you love all day long.

Explore the best basketball jobs & entry level sports jobs

Check out the most recent basketball jobs available. See entry level sports jobs, media jobs, and more.

• HighlightHER Intern- WarnerMedia
• Partner Relations Manager – WiST

Entry Level Basketball Jobs the Week of October 11th

Entry Level Sports Jobs & More the Week of October 4th

Best Entry Level Sports Management Jobs & More the Week of April 19th

Entry Level Sports Journalism Jobs & More the Week of April 11th

Entry Level Sports Jobs in New York, Los Angeles & More the Week of April 5th

You can find even more entry level sports jobs on: Indeed and LinkedIn. Set up job alerts there so you get a fresh batch in your inbox and can be the first to apply – sometimes that can help you stand out as a candidate.

Want to list your job here? Please contact us here.

To get a job in sports, figure out which sport or field you’re passionate about, get an internship in that sport or field as soon as you can – and if you can’t find one start volunteering with a local sports team; meet as many people in that sport or field as possible; and get a college degree in a related field (it does not necessarily need to be a sports management, sports business, or exercise sciences degree). Also, keep watching the sport – it’s important to be a student of your game! Then, make sure your job application materials are as strong as possible (have 3 trusted advisors give you feedback on them), apply to any jobs that seem related to where you eventually want to end up with tailored materials, and do your best every day once hired.

Or you can become a professional athlete by selecting a sport to focus on; training both mentally and physically; being a standout on your high school team and putting up impressive numbers to earn press and impress scouts that come to see your program; getting recruited to play in college, putting up impressive numbers, and so on.

But don’t forget, you can get a job in sports that doesn’t involve playing the sport such as: coach, trainer, manager, agent, journalism, videographer, photographer, marketing, design, operations, human resources – essentially any field but working for a sports company such as ESPN, Overtime, NWSL or a sports team.

To work in sports without a degree you’ll need to earn lots of experience in your chosen field. There are tons of jobs you can get without a degree including: trainer, referee, photographer, videographer, facilities maintenance, audio, blogger, designer, travel coordinator. To work in sports without a degree, start by finding internships or volunteer work, or by trying to build your own thing. Don’t be afraid to reach out to all your favorite teams or athletes and ask if you can help them in any way. You can do anything if you put your mind to it and keep at it.

Good starter sports jobs are: social media coordinator, production assistant, public relations assistant, design assistant. Basically anything that helps you meet a lot of people to build connections with, while educating you about the industry and how to do great work, is a good starter sports job. Be sure to pay attention to who your manager will be, as often they have a big impact on an employee’s overall happiness in a role.

Enjoy these entry level sports job opportunities? Help support our coverage:

Queen Ballers Club was founded to grow the love for lady hoopers.

We’re invested in lifting up women, by giving our queens the spotlight they deserve. Better media means more eyeballs, which means more money for our athletes; more representation; and more dreams inspiring future generations.

Please consider supporting our efforts. There are a few ways you can help:

1. Send a $5 tip to our Paypal tip jar

2. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you so much!

3. Check out our line of hooper shorts for some new threads.

4. Shop Wilson’s basketballs for indoors and outdoors, including our favorite the Evolution.

5. Shop WNBA jerseys, tees, and hoodies on Fanatics.

6. Shop Nike Dunk Lows, Air Jordans, and all sorts of other kicks and gear on StockX.

7. Shop cool basketball gear and gifts on Etsy made by artists.

8. Shop Reebok’s basketball gear.

Bonus: If you like social media, share the articles you love on social media. And follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to see our original photos and videos. We’re not that active on social because we only share original content such as game photography and educational videos we create or league provided imagery, and believe social isn’t great for mental health. We’d encourage you to get outside and play a little ball instead!

Queen Ballers Club is the HOOPS REALM. Pro women’s basketball court is always in session across our content and commerce platform designed for hoopers to grow their game by studying the best. Queen Ballers Club reveals the how behind the highlights, and tells timeless stories about the players in the most elite women’s basketball leagues in the world, across our website, visuals, videos, and more. Our content covers: the pro game; how to grow your basketball skills; and the latest hooper gear.

QBC offers multiple opportunities to promote your brand, products, events, and more. Advertising is available on our website, YouTube channel, and social media channels. Here are just a few options:

• Banner Placements
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We’re excited to partner with brands that align with our mission of inspiring generations of hoopers and celebrating the women’s game. We offer discounts for:

• Package deals for multi-month commitments.
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Please email us at queenballersclub(at)gmail(dot)com. We’ll get back to you within 48 hours.

Today we’re going to introduce you to one of the coolest awards there is, because it’s all about supporting and growing women’s hoops: the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy award. You’ll find out what the award is, how it is earned, and when it started. You’ll also discover why the Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul won the inaugural award this year!

What’s the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award?

The annual Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy award honors the late Kobe Bryant, a devoted supporter of the WNBA and women’s basketball, and his daughter Gianna (also known as Gigi).  The award aims to honor advocates and influencers who use their time, talent, and platform to raise awareness for the WNBA, and women’s and girls’ basketball in various ways, like Kobe was so committed to doing.

The Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award highlights Kobe’s legacy as a coach and mentor and Gigi’s inspirational, relentless commitment to playing at the highest levels of the game. Gigi, a happy, loving and competitive young lady, wanted to pursue her dreams of one day playing in the WNBA and continuing her father’s legacy while elevating women in sports. Gigi loved the game of basketball and aspired to reach the pinnacle of the sport like her father. 

When was the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award started?

When the award was introduced in 2020, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, “Kobe was an incredible champion of women’s basketball and Gianna shared his passion and dedication to our game. The Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award will honor their legacy and reflect Kobe’s commitment to mentoring the next generation of players, promoting the game and giving back to the community.”

Kobe Bryant contributed to the growth of the women’s game at every level through forging relationships, mentoring and training high school, college, NBA and WNBA players, coaching Gigi’s youth basketball team, and launching  the Mamba Sports Academy (now called the Sports Academy). He also was involved with empowering girls through Her Time to Play, an initiative created by the WNBA and NBA dedicated to championing participation in athletics on behalf of girls and women.

Chris Paul won the inaugural award

Today Phoenix Suns’ 12-time NBA All-Star guard and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Chris Paul, has been named the inaugural recipient. A devoted fan of the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury, Chris regularly attended games throughout the season and playoffs. You might have noticed him court side at Game 2 of the 2021 WNBA Finals.

CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 20: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Vanessa Bryant presents Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Daughter Cameron Paul with Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game as part of 2022 NBA All Star Weekend on February 20, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo credit: NBA Photos/Getty Images.

He also uses his public platforms to highlight the on-court successes and stories of WNBA players, as well as their leadership in the community through their fight for social justice. 

Chris supports the youth girls’ game through camps and the CP3 Basketball Academy, with a mission of using basketball to enhance young athletes’ aspirations, disciplines and life skills. 

Prior to the start of the WNBA’s historic 25^th season, Chris was among several NBA stars that wore a WNBA player’s jersey to amplify the historic significance of the moment. Additionally, Chris teamed up with Suns center Deandre Ayton to support the Mercury’s recent WNBA Finals playoff run, purchasing 500 tickets for Game 3 to donate to fans.

He also wants Diana Taurasi as his teammate. “Me at DT [Diana Taurasi] be at the gym talking hoops all day every day. And we’re just as competitive as each other. We both get into it with the officials all the time. So I feel like [we would be] a match made in heaven.” said Chris.

Chris Paul has also worn the WNBA orange hoodie on several occasions. Kobe popularized the WNBA’s orange hoodie when he wore it alongside Gigi at the Mavericks-Lakers game they attended together in December 2019.  Not only marking an iconic moment of a “Girl Dad” supporting his daughter and her WNBA aspirations but also helping to make the hoodie the best ever-selling merchandise item of the WNBA. 

“I have seen firsthand Chris’ appreciation of the WNBA and the game at every level for women and girls,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “His ardent support of our game strongly reflects the legacy of Kobe and Gigi. He serves as a leader and role model for other professional athletes around growing the future of the game for young girls and all fans.”

Now you know all about the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award

The WNBA will make a donation to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a positive impact for underserved athletes and boys and girls in sports founded through the vision and loving memory of Kobe and Gigi Bryant. Speaking of growing the women’s game, up next, read all about the WNBA’s capital raise.

Looking to build your basketball skills after picking up a ball a few times? We’ve got you! Discover the joys of basketball with fun basketball drills for beginners that will improve your ball handling, decision making, shooting, passing, defense, and more. These are the drills that have made our kids laugh, find their love for the game, and get better before their next game.

They’re perfect for elementary and middle school students who might want some help catching up to their peers, or for any beginner just getting started. And most can be done solo by a player working on their game on their own. Keep in mind that a few do need groups of 4+ to try, though. So grab your ball and hit the court!

If you need a new ball check out the best outdoor balls, indoor basketballs, and women’s basketballs.

Get Started with Fun Beginner Basketball Drills

From tennis ball madness to a wild zoo, and even thrilling tic tac toe, there’s something to delight all your beginners hoopers. Let’s get into it!

1. Tennis ball catch series

OK we don’t know what the magic is, but kids simply love when you introduce a tennis ball into the equation. There are a number of ways you can have them toss and throw a tennis ball, so any way you can think of is fine. But here are a few of our favorites:

• The most simple is to have them toss and catch a tennis ball in one hand, while dribbling the basketball with the other (try to have them hit a goal like 10 in a row).
• Once they’ve conquered that, move on to crossovers where they throw the tennis ball in the air with one hand and catch it with the other, and crossover the basketball too. Remember to set a goal.
• Have them freestyle dribble, and you face them, and throw the ball for them to catch to a specific hand they need to catch it in, while moving the basketball to the other hand.
• Throw the tennis ball high and to different places around the court, and they need to dribble to it and catch it before it bounces twice.

These drills help work on coordination, off-ball arm work, and multi-tasking.

It can be done solo or with a group of players.

2. Double ball challenges

Interestingly enough, having two basketballs seems to be a ‘fun’ cheat code as well. So here are a few of our favorite ways to have players work on two ball dribbling:

• Begin with just simple two ball dribbling down the court. Time their first attempt and share the results with them. Then, challenge them to do it again, with a goal of beating their first time.
• Progress to staggered two ball dribbling down the court where they need to alternate the times at which the balls touch the ground, as they make their way down the court.
• Then do pound ball dribbling where they must pound the balls hard into the ground and at the same time, as they make their way down the court.
• Then set up an obstacle course, placing cones they must dribble around using two ball dribbling, and end in a layup. If you have multiple players, their goal will be to beat the person in front of them. If you just have one player, give them a number of layups to hit within a certain time.

These drills help work on coordination, improving their weak hand, and multi-tasking.

It can be done solo or with a group of players.

3. Safari dribble challenge

It’s about to be a zoo! For this drill your players will dribble ‘like’ different animals up the length of the court. For example, first they need to imitate a turtle, dribbling very low and slow. Then they can imitate a cheetah, going super fast with long steps. A bunny might be a good one to do next as they move very unpredictably: slow, then fast, from side to side, in circles, etc. You can also let each player pick and animal for everyone to do one time down the court. For the final round, call out multiple animals as they make their way down the court, so that they’re combining all sorts of styles.

This drill helps work on change of pace and direction.

It can be done solo or with a group of players.

4. Knock away tag

Kids love tag so this is an easy one to implement. Identify a specific area for kids to play tag within, such as the half court or free throw box. Everyone has their own ball and must dribble as they run. Everyone’s goal is to knock the other players’ balls out of the area. The last person who still has their ball in the area wins. You can also continuously reduce the size of the area as kids get out, to keep making it even more challenging to maintain their dribble from the other players safely.

This drill works on their ball handling, defensive steals, reaction, (and sometimes) speed too.

This drill needs to be done with a group of players (ideally 4+).

5. Monkey in the middle

You might remember playing this during recess as a kid. Basically there’s one person on defense, and they are in the middle of a surrounding circle of the other players. The players in the outer circle must pass the ball to one another without the monkey getting it. Once the monkey gets it, they switch out into the outer circle and the person who threw the pass that got picked off goes into the middle. The coach can call out who the ball needs to be passed to, or let kids make the decision. Since there is no official ‘end’ you can do the drill for a certain amount of time, or until everyone has been the monkey. You can have the players in the circle do certain types of passes: for example they must throw a behind the back pass, or left hand bounce pass, etc.

This drill helps players hone in on their defense, reaction and making reads, while working on good passes.

This drill needs to be done with a group of players (ideally 4+).

6. Knock out

This is another recess favorite. Pick one spot on the court to shoot from – typically it’s the foul line, but you can but it anywhere you want (and switch it up if you want to run the drill through multiple times). Everyone stands in a line behind one another at the foul line. The first player has a basketball and so does the second. The goal is to score first. The first player shoots their free throw, and if they miss they get their rebound and keep shooting until they score – OR until the player behind them scores. The second player can begin shooting as soon as the first player has released their ball for their shot. If the second player scores first, the first person is out. Players pass their balls to the next players in line as soon as they score or et out. The game continues until there’s just one player left.

This drill is great because it provides experience with shooting under pressure and teaches the importance of rebounding.

This drill needs to be done with a group of players (ideally 4+).

7. Spin shooting

For this drill, players have the ball in their hands, face away from the basket, then must jump and spin 180 degrees to face toward the basket, and shoot. Let them pick anywhere in the mid-range to shoot from. Time players for 30 seconds to see how many shots they can make. The winner is the person who has the most. Then (just for more advanced or high school beginners) run it back but with three-point shots. You can also do a similar drill where they have to shoot off just their right leg, (or just their left leg), after first touching the ball with the ground using only that let, and then shooting.

This drill works on their balance and shooting form.

It can be done solo or with a group of players.

8. Cone collection challenge

For this drill just spread a bunch of cones out across the court. The goal is for each player to get as many as they can, or you can time each player as they get all of them (with the goal of them being the fastest). You can let kids just pick up the cones any way they’d like for the first round. The next round specify their dribbling hand (i.e. you must dribble with only your left), and then the following round do their other hand. You can also have them do specific movements at the cone before being able to pick it up. For instance they must do a ‘drop’, crossover, etc before picking up each cone.

A fun alternative to this drill is to let the kids blow bubbles, and other players have to try to pop as many bubbles as possible, while dribbling.

This drill works on ball handling, and helps kids ‘get low’.

9. Underhand layup cones

We dare you to find a kid that doesn’t love knocking cones over! Place 5-10 cones in a row and have your player stand about 3 feet away from them. Have them toss the ball up in the air using the same form they’d use to shoot an underhand layup, but with the goal of knocking each of the cones over one at a time. Time how long it takes them to knock all the cones over this way, and then have them try to beat their time. You can also specify they need to do a round with their weak hand as well. Then progress to standing about 3 feet away from the basketball hoop, and needing to hit the backboard three times using the same form – do this for each side of the backboard (so, twice). Depending upon how they do (if this is easy for them), potentially teach them the footwork for an underhand layup, and have them progress to making three in a row on each side, and with each hand.

This drill is great for working on underhand layups and expanding their finishing package.

It can be done solo or with a group of players.

10. Tic tac toe

Our last very fun drill for elementary and middle school beginners is a fun game of tic tac toe. Pair up players, and each duo will play their own game. Using chalk or pen and paper, create a tic tac toe board. Anytime anyone makes a bucket, they get to put down their tic tac toe mark (an X or O), to try to win the tic tac toe game. The first player shoots from anywhere they want. If they make it they put down their TTT mark, and the second player also tries to make the same shot (writing their TTT mark if they make the shot). Then the first player shoots from a new spot. If s/he misses it (no TTT mark), the second player gets to shoot from any spot. If the second player makes it (TTT mark), the first player must shoot from their spot as well. The progression continues until someone wins the actual written game of tic tac toe.

In case you’re not familiar with how the written portion of tic tac toe works, here are the rules:

1. The game is played on a grid that’s 3 squares by 3 squares.
2. One player is an X mark, one player is O. Players take turns putting their marks in empty squares.
3. The first player to get 3 of her marks in a row (up, down, across, or diagonally) is the winner.
4. When all 9 squares are full, the game is over. If no player has 3 marks in a row, the game ends in a tie.

This drill works on shooting under pressure.

This drill needs to be done with a group of players (2).

Bonus: Rock paper scissors

For this drill pairs of players square off. They face each other at half court with one ball on the ground in between them. The player play rock paper scissors. The loser is on defense. The winner picks up the ball and tries to score a layup. If they score they get a point. If the defender gets the ball or the offensive player doesn’t score, the defense gets a point. Play til someone gets 5 points first.

In case you aren’t familiar with rock, paper, scissors, here’s how that works: Both players start each round by saying, “rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” together. On “shoot,” each player holds out their fist for rock, flat hand for paper, or their index and middle finger for scissors. Rock crushes scissors, scissors cut paper, and paper covers rock.

This drill works on quick decision making, as well as offensive drives, and defense.

This drill needs to be done with a group of players (2).

Enjoy Fun Basketball Drills

Remember it’s just about improving 1% every day. Keep practicing and keep your head up. Up next explore basketball shooting drills for beginners. Or learn all about how two-time WNBA Champion Alysha Clark overcame imposter syndrome.