Alabama Girls' Basketball Team Being Denied Championship Sparks Outrage

The treatment of an Alabama girls' basketball team has sparked outrage after the mom of one of the players claimed they were denied a trophy for winning a championship because they were not boys.

The fifth-grade girls' team has been representing Spain Park High School in Hoover City, in the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama, but were given an ultimatum about their practice facility—either play in the boys' championship or lose the opportunity to use the facility, according to the mom, who addressed the situation on Facebook.

The girls' team went on to beat the boys' teams on the way to winning the championship, only to find that they were denied the trophy.

Jayme Mashayekh, the mother of one of the fifth-grade players, explained the saga on her Facebook page, as she congratulated the girls on their achievement.

Mashayekh wrote: "So proud of Rylie and her basketball team. It was a hard lesson they learned tonight. They won the 5th grade boys rec league championship but were not given the trophy.

"While it's definitely not about the trophy I don't think its a lesson we should be teaching our boys or girls in this day and age.

"These girls have played together for 3 years for a competitive girl's league representing Spain Park. All are 5th graders in the Hoover school system. Half way through their season they were told they could not use the Hoover gyms for their practices unless they paid to play in the Hoover rec league."

Mashayekh continued: "They were told to stay together as a team they had to play up a level in competition and play the 5th grade boys. The girls were middle of the pack throughout the season losing several close games by 1 point. Playing the boys was a challenge they rose to meet. It made them better players and a better team.

"They were told before the championship that they could play in it but if they won they wouldn't be allowed to have the trophy. 'Excuse me? What?' What did they do to get disqualified? Did they not pay their dues? Did they not play up a level in competition? Oh, it's because they're GIRLS?!?!"

The outraged mom concluded: "So sure enough these 5th grade girls played their hearts out, left it all on the floor and battled their male counterparts only to be told, 'No, I'm sorry you don't count.'

"I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed I have to tell my daughter that things like this still happen. I'm disappointed we teach our kids to accept things they have not earned (other than salvation which can not be earned). Most of all I'm disappointed in my city who won't allow some 5th grade girls to play basketball."

Newsweek has reached out to Mashayekh and Hoover City Schools for further comment.

One of the opposing coaches wrote on Twitter about the tournament: "This is so sad. I don't know the details of them playing in this league but my son played in this league. His team didn't play this team, but I saw them multiple times. They were good, if they won the tournament, they deserve to be crowned as champions."

Meanwhile, another Twitter user disputed the claims, saying that the girls were an assembled "all-star" team that practice twice as often as the boys: "Left out the part where this was an all star team that practiced twice as often as the rec teams they beat or where they gave the same treatment to a 6th grade boys team winning the 8th grade division."

The mom has since posted an update to her original comments, in which she revealed that the authorities have now made steps to make amends to the girls' team and start moving in the "right direction" when it comes to their further practice and participation.

Mashayekh updated her Facebook post about the issue with: "The City of Hoover and the Hoover Rec Center have reached out to make things right for the girls.

"Thank you for all your support and hopefully this will be a step in the right direction for more/better access to facilities and opportunities for our female athletes."

The City of Hoover released a statement to Newsweek after publication in which it said there has been some confusion over the participation in the tournament and that there hasn't been any discrimination.

"Questions have recently been raised about recognition of teams participating in a youth basketball tournament conducted by the Hoover Parks and Recreation Department (HPRD)," the statement said. "For many years, the HPRD has allowed 'elite' teams based in Hoover to participate in tournaments they conduct. Those 'elite' teams are not sought out by HPRD, but rather they come to HPRD and ask to participate. Members of 'elite' teams are hand selected based of their skill level. They do not go through the same talent evaluation as those who participate on regular league teams. Therefore, 'elite' teams willingly agree to compete at levels above their grade range to ensure fair competition for all youth athletes. If an 'elite' team participates in a HPRD youth tournament, and makes it to the championship round, the rules state they cannot receive a trophy as a result of that win. Only the team that is grade-appropriate has ever been eligible to be recognized as the tournament champions. Coaches of the 'elite' teams are made aware of and agree to these rule at the time they request to participate.

"It is important to note the same provisions have always applied to both girls and boys 'elite' teams. HPRD has never treated any team differently based on gender or any other factor, except for the 'elite' status of some teams. To that point, in the same recent tournament that's been in question, a boys 'elite' team also won a championship game, but they were not named the champions because they were competing outside their grade group. This team included the son of a City of Hoover elected official. This clearly indicates that the same rules are applied to all teams regardless of gender.

"The two teams that won outside of their grade brackets have been invited to attend the Hoover City Council meeting Monday, March 6th, 2023 so that they can be recognized for their recent victories.

"The Hoover Parks and Recreation Department is reviewing all of its youth athletic league policies to ensure that all competition and recognition procedures are fair to all participants and that those procedures are more clearly understood."

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Update 3/6/23, 2:07 p.m. ET: This story was updated with a statement from the City of Hoover.