Arlington, TX (May 10, 2024) – The Dallas Wings will host the inaugural GEM Dream Team Kickoff on Saturday afternoon at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The GEM (Girls Empowered by Mavericks) program was created by the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks to engage, inspire and empower young females through the use of physical activity as a backdrop to their development and success.
The GEM Dream Team features 12 girls, ages 8-13, who were nominated by the Dallas Mavericks in recognition of their participation in youth basketball, particularly with the Mavs’ GEM programming. Throughout the season, the GEM Dream Team will receive access to exclusive experiences and opportunities to engage with Dallas Wings players, coaches, and front office executives. These and other benefits, such as a full scholarship to the Wings’ 2024 Summer Camp, aim to provide added mentorship and guidance to this select group of future leaders.
The day’s festivities begin at 12:30 p.m. CT, when the GEM Dream Team will observe a Dallas Wings preseason practice. From there, the girls will have a meet and greet with the Wings players and staff, including Head Coach Latricia Trammell and Dallas Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb.
Following time with the Wings, the GEM Dream Team will then be formally announced at a press conference, where the girls will sign their team contracts, receive jerseys and hats and pose for photo opportunities.
Media interested in attending the GEM Dream Team Kickoff should contact Pam Flenke, Dallas Wings Vice President of Communications & Broadcasting (pflenke@dallaswings.com).
The Dallas Wings and Dallas Mavericks announced a first-of-its-kind sponsorship last summer, as the Wings became the first WNBA team to sign a marquee agreement with an NBA franchise operating under a different ownership group. The Dallas Mavericks’ GEM logo is featured on the abdomen of Wings player jerseys for all home and road games throughout the multi-year agreement.
In addition to the GEM logo inclusion on the jerseys, Wings players and coaches are fully integrated into year-round GEM programming, reaching over 3,000 girls in North Texas annually, including Saturday’s Dream Team Kickoff. Offerings include basketball camps, health and wellness clinics presented by UT Southwestern, financial empowerment courses presented by TIAA, and workshops focused on how sports can play a critical role in forming leadership skills, inclusion, and academic success.
