We have seen in recent years massive strides taken towards the equality of publicity given towards women’s sport in particular with football and cricket becoming more and more popular mainstream but there is still much more to do as those bridges between male and female athletes and there competitions need building better together for more uniformed outlook on future sport within the UK.

You might think long gone are the days of ‘sexist’ comments and phrases towards female athletes but this unfortunately has not yet been completely eradicated as their alpha-male counterparts often compare themselves a level playing field to the opposite sex so what we need to learn is that sport for both genders are great in their own ways, sport for both sexes should be played in the same way and with the same mutual respect.

Whilst often men’s sport can be more powerful and quicker, the women’s game can be equally as technical and tactical and as coaching and funding improves we have seen giant strides towards British sports teams and athletes fulfilling their huge potential. Which is the most important thing regardless of gender.

In Nottingham no better an example is that of our female basketball team Nottingham Wildcats.

A leading team in the country the Wildcats have won two national championships over the past six seasons and have consistently proved to be a leading team in a sport where the women’s game in Britain is much healthier than that of their male counterparts.

Internationally team GB are ranked 18 in the world in the FIBA rankings compared to the men’s team in 42^nd but still when asked ‘what sport do you play’ Our very own Nottingham Wildcats players get more than just ‘raised eyebrows’ after response.

We asked Portuguese International & Wildcats guard Simone Costa to pose the questions on her team-mates all be it wanting to keep their answers anonymous with one girl stating “Most men don’t expect women to play basketball especially in England, I’m always asked if I play netball instead.”

“I get comments most of the time when playing or training, more so when working out in the gym.”

“Men are definitely more respected and treated better overall by everyone as they are nearly always seen as ‘more successful’”

The truth is that despite being leading women in their profession there still seems to be those that cannot comprehend that a woman can be as good or as successful as a man, and that is what needs to stop if we are to improve our understanding of not just sport but our own interpretation of life as the world changes for the better with more equality imposed no matter the sex, race or skin colour.

Simone Costa is a player with NCAA experience and one that has represented her country at U16, U18 and U20 levels. The Nottingham star asked her team-mates the same questions and got repeated the same answers… What is the response like when you tell men that you play basketball? Asked Costa… “They act surprised. Like women in England don’t play basketball. They just think netball.” Said one of her team-mates.

How do you think you are treated compared to the men? “I get treated differently compared to men. If we were to play with men, we get treated as if we are soft or not skilled enough to play with men. Men are seen as more elite and successful than women.”

On asking whether things have improved in recent years one player told Costa “Yes, things have changed a little more due to more females playing basketball in England. There is more recognition than there has been but still not to the point women are seen to be as successful as men.”

With Nottingham’s Premier Basketball team all made up of women, with the sports growth in recent times and sport in generals persistence to grow the women’s game more equally to that of the men’s we hope that ‘mind set’ and ‘opinion’ changes for the good of all as more and more female sport stars become not just the norm but more inspiring to those watching.

Whilst sport is unilaterally loved in this country by all those who take part and watch, it needs to be respected from bottom to top, black or white, man or woman by everyone as inclusive for everyone so that by getting behind our athletes and teams we all have a better chance of progression leading to success through the games we love.

*Main image @NottmWildcats the Nottingham Womens Basketball team is one of the best in the UK.