SAKSATOON (Canada) - Reflecting on her debut year playing for Team Canada, two-times FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series winner Paige Crozon’s thoughts go to her daughter Poppy, who – from nine months of age – she says has been “such a big part of my 3x3 journey”. Paige transferred her basketball experience to 3x3 basketball in 2019 when the Women’s Series first launched and cites how her journey as a first-time mother and becoming one of FIBA 3x3’s biggest names on the circuit reignited her “joy and the love for the sport” at a seminal time in her life.
“In any realm of my life, she provides me with so much perspective,” Paige explains of her daughter. “Whether we win every game or we lose every single game, I get to have a different role that keeps me rooted, keeps me grounded, and to keep perspective on what's important in life. She has been such a big part of my 3x3 journey. It was so incredible to have her with me in the very first year all the way to the pinnacle at the Paris 2024 Olympics and to share in the journey with her.
“It also reminds me as to why I started playing basketball in the beginning – the joy and the love for the sport. And now I’ve got to see her start playing in her first basketball team and find myself reflecting on what values I want to instil in her on and off the court. I get to celebrate raising this beautiful life that is my daughter every single day and see life through the lens of the little girl that I once was and it is something so special.”
This is important to note, Paige says, as FIBA continues to break ground on areas such as gender equality, ensuring equal opportunities and visibility for the sport’s female players, coaches, and officials. Speaking on International Women’s Day [March 8th], Paige says she is reminded of her role to “draw attention to the role women play in their careers and in society”, adding: “As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I have experienced some barriers but, on the flip side of that, I have had an amazing community of strong, supportive women that have been there to lift me up and support me.
“So, to be able to shine light on those stories, share in those experiences and therefore create a pathway and empower the next generation, I think that’s why this day is so important. I am excited to celebrate the women in my life. Sport has provided such an amazing platform for women to speak up and for us to have a following of young girls, women, boys and men to share our experiences with. As a single parent, my experiences may differ from some of my male counterparts, so I think sport gives a platform to be able to speak about the issues and barriers as well as to celebrate our successes.”
When she isn’t raising Poppy or travelling the globe playing 3x3 basketball, Paige also manages the Living Skies Indigenous Basketball League, a cost-free initiative she helped launch in 2020 which empowers more than 2,100 people to grow both as athletes and individuals. She cites the league’s role in “removing barriers” to allow and inspire girls to continue playing basketball after education and the foundations this offers young women to succeed in their adulthoods on and off the court.
“Through the data, we have read that girls around the age of adolescence typically drop out of sports and I think there are a few things to help mitigate that from happening,” Paige continues. “There are so many benefits from being a part of sports from a young age; being part of a team and physically active is so important for girls. If we can encourage girls to stay in sport, maybe we can help them to continue playing throughout their life.”
From providing the same hotel accommodations, access to facilities, rules, and even the ball, FIBA continues its steadfast commitment to creating a sustainable and thriving 3x3 ecosystem for women in the sport’s community, beyond one-off opportunities. Women in basketball is a key FIBA Strategic Priority, launched in 2019 and extended to 2027, with six specific goals developed to drive greater participation, representation, and impact across every level of the women’s game.
Increasing accessibility to grassroots sport is critical to meeting these goals, Paige concurs. “Something I think FIBA does really well – with its slogan being ‘from the streets to the Olympics’ – is you only need a ball and five other friends to play. As women continue to play professionally and become parents, across the sports industry, we need support for mothers like those set out by FIBA, including policies that encourage players to have their children around them when they are playing and the financial support to help cover day care, training, and travel.
“By removing those barriers, basketball is helping young girls to continue to participate in sports. It’s therefore important for women to have the opportunities to play at a high level, to be compensated fairly in contrast to their male counterparts and to receive the attention and recognition that they deserve. This will provide a clear pathway for girls to follow.”