I started playing in 4th grade and it by the time middle school rolled around, it was my favorite sport. Through high school and intramurals in college, it was a big part of my life. I found my way to LGBTQ+ basketball in my late 20’s after moving back to NYC and discovering the NYC Gay Basketball League (now Pride Basketball League NYC).

I can. It was September 2010 and I was so nervous – I knew no one. But it quickly became family and I desperately looked forward to weekend game days, then post-game drinks, then regularly hanging out with my new found friends turned family.

The W+ West Hollywood tournament earlier this year. It was such a culmination for me of a lot of work to launch this first tournament and bring together my two basketball communities – the NGBA and the PBLNYC. It was so special to have so many players travel to WeHo from NYC to compete in this brand new tournament and it was just truly special.

This is impossible, but if I had to pick 5, I have to honor the OG trailblazers in Jason Collins and Sue Wicks, then the GOAT Diana Taurasi, and two of my current favorites Arike Ogunbowale and Jonquel Jones.

The biggest impact off the court was hands down meeting my wife. I never would have met her if it wasn’t for my queer basketball community and for that, I’m forever grateful.