APIA (Samoa) - Pualele Craig's journey as a female basketball coach is breaking barriers in Samoa, the latest of which is being the first female coach in the Men's division of the Samoa Pro Basketball League.

Craig is currently coaching the Riverside Eagles of the Pro League and shared that she is enjoying the process of teaching and learning at the same time.

"Before the Pro League, I coached U16 and U18 men's teams, and overall, and the experience of coaching a senior men's team has been super fulfilling, I thought it would be intimidating but at the end of the day it's still basketball," shared Craig.

"The game pace is quicker with older and faster players and some players are more experienced and can contribute valuable input to game strategy and planning, which is nice," she added.

Photo: Opening day for the Riverside Eagles

Craig, who was also the first-named youth national team coach, discussed the initial idea of her coaching one of the teams in the pro league. She suggested the idea of inviting the U17 Samoa Men's team in preparation for the FIBA U17 Championship.

"When the ProLeague was first being discussed, there were 3 teams confirmed and needed one more to make it an even 4. I quickly put my hand up for that 4th ProLeague spot and suggested we use it to give the U17 training squad competitive games in preparation for the FIBA tournament. Although things didn’t quite work out that way, my involvement in ProLeague coaching a men’s team began from that initial idea," she shared.

Craig credits her experience with the FIBA Tournament Coaches Course (TCC) in 2020 as a propeller for her coaching career in basketball.

"I want to acknowledge the sisterhood that exists in basketball. A key anchor in my coaching experience thus far has been my participation in the FIBA TCC for women I took in 2020. I’m still applying things I learned there in my coaching today," Craig shared.

"I’m still being mentored by those boss lady coaches. Their belief and support have been invaluable and have meant the world to me. I also have a basketball sister coach in the USA and Canada who have helped me in meaningful ways as well," she added.

Photo: Riverside Eagles practice at the NUS Gymnasium

An aspiring female basketball leader, Lori Joseph, who is currently a part of FIBA's WiLead Internship program, shared how Craig is inspiring young girls in Samoa.

"Growing up, there weren't a lot of female role models in basketball, and to see and work with Pualele up close has inspired me to target bigger things as a person. It's such an amazing sight to see Pualele coaching in the Pro League, just by watching her, I feel empowered as a woman and I believe it's the same for other girls watching her," said Joseph, who played for Samoa's U17 Women's national team.

Despite breaking barriers as a female in the basketball circles of Samoa, Craig credited that she is also being pushed by the support of the men around her.

"Women are breaking the glass ceiling in many areas traditionally reserved for men. Having said that I’m keenly aware that I’m coaching in the men’s ProLeague largely because of the support of great men. I want to credit Pauga Talalelei Pauga, the President of Samoa Basketball who has been a tremendous proponent of women in basketball leadership, the same can be said of all the men on our Samoa Basketball board," she explained.

"And my biggest supporter has been my husband, Daniel. He has always run with my ideas and helped me to make things happen. He truly values women and knows great things happen when men and women work together. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that both my father and father-in-law espouse those same values," she added.

Photo: Riverside Eagles huddle during a game

Looking into the future, Craig hopes to continue her work with basketball, contribute to the community programs, and help develop the game especially for women in basketball. She is collaborating with the Samoa Basketball Federation to organize a women's basketball league soon.

"I would love for girls basketball and women’s basketball to grow and become more competitive in Samoa. Our HerWorldHerRules girl’s basketball camp was a great indication that girls want to play basketball. The response from our community was wonderful and our basketball board is very supportive of promoting female basketball. It would be great to have a regular women’s basketball league as part of next year’s basketball calendar," she shared.

"I am optimistic about Women's basketball in Samoa, with everyone chipping in their ideas and helping out, a bright future is waiting for young girls aspiring to be players, coaches, or even officials. I am excited to see how things will look like in the next few years," she ended.

FIBA