Game Changers: Liana & Ja’Nor Champion Girls in Youth Sports

Female leaders can be found in every field, from STEM to business to sports. However, some athletic spaces can still feel unwelcoming to girls. That hasn’t stopped Liana and Ja’Nor, two girls thriving in historically male-dominated sports with support from their local Boys & Girls Clubs.

At Clubs, girls build confidence through mentorship, leadership programs and sports — all within a community that sees them for who they truly are: capable of anything. Discover how Liana and Ja’Nor are reaching their full potential, on and off the field.

Liana Takes Her Shot in Ice Hockey

Since age six, Liana has played many sports at school and through the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx, NY. When Liana and her brother wanted to learn how to ice skate, they began taking lessons at the Club’s ice rink. It wasn’t long before she found herself on the ice, hockey stick in hand.

“When my mom signed me up for ice hockey at the Club, I didn’t think much about it until I saw how fast my coaches could skate. Watching them got me excited to see what I could do,” the 12-year-old player said.

The Kips Bay Club provides ice skating lessons and affordable hockey programs through its partnership with the New York Rangers’ T.E.A.M. program, offering full gear and coaching from the New York Junior Rangers staff twice a week in winter. “Our ice rink is the only ice rink in the Bronx,” says Darril Almonte, the Club’s athletics director. “This plus our partnership with the Rangers gives our kids the opportunity to try sports like ice hockey that they might not otherwise have considered.”

Liana practices ice hockey twice a week at the Club’s ice rink. She says falling doesn’t hurt while wearing her gear, which boosts her confidence on the ice.

“Liana has grown into a fearless competitor. She holds her own against anyone and gets right back up after every fall,” says Darril.

Though not on a team yet, Liana enjoys scrimmaging at the Kips Bay Club, preferring to play on the wing. Being the only girl on the Club’s ice hockey team doesn’t faze her; her passion for the game is what matters most.

“Gliding on the ice while breathing in the cold air always relaxes me,” Liana says. “My teammates and coaches always congratulate me when I make a goal. They’ve all helped me get better.”

Like all Boys & Girls Clubs, Kips Bay is committed to supporting youth on and off the field. After school and in the summer, kids and teens have access to homework help, STEM programs, and opportunities for scholarships and first jobs.

“Off the ice, Liana is an excellent student. She’s a confident young leader, demonstrating strength, resilience and the true spirit of girl power,” says Larry, Liana’s father.

With support from her family and her Club, Liana continues to face down any athletic challenge that comes her way. “The Kips Bay Club has done a lot for me by teaching me new things and supporting me in every big decision I make,” she says.

Ja’Nor Finds Her Foothold in Football

Image courtesy of Sports Re-Illustrated.

Ja’Nor has been attending the Slidell Club at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana almost daily for two years. One day, her mom took her to cheerleading tryouts at school. Instead, Ja’Nor watched her brother join the football team and thought to herself, “Hey, that looks fun.”

Initially hesitant, her mother, Jozette, quickly recognized Ja’Nor’s talent and passion for the sport. Ja’Nor is now 12 years old and the only girl on her school’s football and basketball teams.

“I like the physical contact in basketball and football,” Ja’Nor says. “I’m allowed to play rougher and feel like I can more freely express myself while leaving behind any [societal] expectations to ‘act like a lady.’”

Ja’Nor takes pride in being a positive role model for her three younger siblings through her athletics, showing them that girls can and do thrive in a variety of sports. She’s played basketball and flag football since third grade and runs for her school’s track team. She also makes an effort to help all her teammates feel included.

“I like to joke around in sports to make others feel welcome. I’ll also offer tips to help improve their game and introduce them to other players.”

Beyond sports, Ja’Nor says the Club staff have helped her get more into reading and made math more enjoyable, too. She appreciates the all-around supportive environment.

“I love going to the Club because not only is it fun, but I get to learn new things, and I just like how it feels to be there every day,” says Ja’Nor.

America needs girls who are more than what they look like. It needs girls who can inspire and change the world. Through our partnership with the Dove Self-Esteem Project, Boys & Girls Clubs of America empowers girls with opportunities to lead, learn from mentors, and build the life skills and confidence to achieve their goals. One such opportunity arose in collaboration with Dove, featuring Liana and Ja’Nor in a special edition of Sports Illustrated. This edition highlighted ten young female athletes who embody the Dove Self-Esteem Project by championing strength and confidence in their sport.

Sources
¹Good Sports. The Harris Poll. Cost of Sports Study (2024). Project Play Survey (2024).
²Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National Youth Outcomes Initiatives Member Survey (2024)