The “WNBA” league, PeacePlayers International – Middle East’s oldest female twinning group, held its first event of the season on Thursday, December 3rd. Girls from the PPI – ME communities of Beit Safafa and Esawiah – who have participated in the program for over three years – joined members of the Leyada High School basketball team for a joint practice led by PPI – ME Basketball Operations Manager and professional coach Vito Gillic’.

This “WNBA” season represents a continuation of last year’s successful “Premiere League” twinnings, during which the girls competed on four integrated teams in a league format that culminated with playoffs and a championship game. With the summer break and holidays behind them, the girls were ready to pick up where they had left off.

As the PeacePlayers shuffled into the gym, they excitedly caught up with one another while lacing up their basketball shoes. It was immediately clear that the girls had lost neither their basketball skills over the break, nor their friendships.

And with these girls, basketball is business. As always, they came into the gym ready to play. In twinned pairs, the girls warmed up by practicing their layups, ball handling skills and coordination.

Throughout practice, the athletes also seemed to work on their cheering skills. “Yalla, yalla!” meaning “Let’s go let’s go!” constantly bounced off the walls of the gym as the girls ran hard through the drills.

At the end of the practice, the group split into four teams for scrimmaging. A coach was assigned to each team to provide both advice and encouragement to the players.

The athletes worked well together and it is clear that they have high hopes for the season. As the girls left the gym, they seemed to only be thinking of the next practice…”Yalla, isn’t it Thursday again yet?”