Record-Breaking Girls’ Day at Ulriken Eagles: Over 70 Young Girls Filled the Arena
Ulriken Eagles is known to use basketball as a tool for integration, inclusion, and belonging. In fact, their high success rate of players has a long list of national players and college players. At the moment, four of their players are in the United States of America at prestigious universities;
Aurora Sørbye - Wake Forest
Anna Linnea Hovig Wikstrøm - Duke
Karyn Sanford - Utah State University
Hanne Nybø - Biola University
February 8th, turned out to be an energetic and highly memorable Sunday for the Ulriken Eagles as they hosted a Girls’ Day. Nearly 60 young girls from the local area and surrounding schools, mainly 1st-4th grade girls had signed up in advance—but when the doors opened, even more poured in. By the end, more than 70 girls had gathered at Landåshallen for a day filled with play, learning, and the joy of basketball together with their super role models.
Stars Led the Day
The event was led by Ulriken Eagles’ own BLNO players, (half of which are on the senior national basketball team) giving participants a unique opportunity to be coached by some of the country’s best and kindest of role models. Senior national team players Stine Austgulen, Synne Jacobsen, Sunniva Sørbye, and Siena Sanford were all present. Throughout the day, the BLNO stars served as instructors, motivators, and role models for the young participants.
From Introductions to Full Activity
The day began with a presentation of Ulriken’s BLNO team, where the girls got to meet the players who would be coaching them. Then it was straight into action.
Participants were divided into age groups, rotating through stations that included:
Play and motor skills
Ball handling
Shooting technique
All the girls received Ulriken Eagles T-shirts, quickly creating a strong sense of community and club identity throughout the arena.
Drawing Breaks, Music – and Pizza!
After an active first session, it was time for a short break. The arena filled with music, and the girls could draw, chat, and relax a bit before lunch was served. Pizza and slush were on the menu—both big hits with the participants.
Then it was back on the court for more drills, activities, and exciting competitions. Time flew by, and the joy was clearly visible among both participants and instructors.
A Day We’ve Been Looking Forward to for a Long Time!
Ulriken Eagles’ Director of Sports, Ingvild Sanford was both moved and proud by the turnout:
“This is a day we’ve been looking forward to for a long time, and we were excited to see how many would sign up. To think that 70 girls came—and that most of them don’t normally play basketball but were introduced to the sport through our after-school (SFO) project—is incredible. Now I hope that the experience with our fantastic role models inspires them to want to play more basketball. I am extremely proud of our BLNO players, who truly gave their all today and created a wonderful atmosphere in the arena.”
Leaders With A Legacy
Ulriken leaders such as Ingvild and Durell Sanford and Arild Buen exemplify the mission of recruiting young girls to basketball, driving inclusion initiatives, coaching, mentoring, and ensuring that no child is left behind. The legacy of Ingvild and Durell Sanford goes decades back when they met while studying at the same university in the USA. Ingvild received her education in journalism at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri and met Durell in 2001 and both played for the university's team. Ingvild and Durrell returned to Bergen and raised four children together who all became national team players; Karyn, Gabriel, Siena, and Oliver.
While Durell is a full-time coach at Ulriken, Ingvild, in addition to working at the center of inclusion in Bergen, and coaching duties in Ulriken, she is a trusted and highly valuable member of the community on and off the court. This also includes hands on work with the Girls’ Day along with recruitment projects. Children and young people from the club's projects in Haukeland, Nykrohnborg, Krohnstad, Landås, Fridalen and Nordnes flock to the club, along with some from other parts of the city.
Fifty-five years after its founding, the Ulriken Eagles remain proof that sport can be used as a vehicle for growth, development, and belonging in low-income areas. Part of their legacy is defined by generations of families who have found purpose and connection in Landåshallen. Team leaders such as Ingvild and Durell Sanford, Arild Buen, and the Ausgulen family among others drive that very vehicle especially when it comes to females in basketball.
Inspiring and Recruiting
For several years, Ulriken Eagles have worked systematically to strengthen girls’ participation in basketball. Girls’ Day is one of the club’s most important initiatives to create belonging with safe adults who are trained to take care of, guide, and mentor children to create positive experiences and safe spaces for girls who want to try the sport or simply to get to know their local role models. The event clearly showed that interest is high—and that the club’s focus on role models and inclusion is paying off. If half of these girls grow up to become basketball players within Ulriken Eagles, we just may have enough for two national teams and future leaders for our communities and beyond. Girls in sports learn how to lead in ALL AREAS OF THEIR LIFE which is why we invest in girls.
PHOTOS BY: Brage Titlestad
