Island Hoops is a registered non-profit society that was formed by a small group of queer basketball players in response to a lack of local year-round basketball opportunities that didn't centre the experience of cisgender men. It started with a weekly drop-in and grew from there. Over 150 unique people participated in Island Hoops programs between 2023-2025.
Unfortunately, as of December 2025, the small leadership group for Island Hoops made the difficult decision to temporarily pause programming for personal reasons (recovering from knee surgery / writing a masters thesis / and more). Between coding marathons and physiotherapy exercises, we took some time to talk about the future of Island Hoops. We came to some important realizations, and we’re ready to share them with y’all.
3X3 LEAGUE
Taking on 3X3 League was a whirlwind. In late 2024, we were faced with a choice; if we didn’t agree to run it, the rare prime-time gym space would be forfeit to men’s sports. Pressure was on; so we stepped up to the best of our abilities.
We acted on player concerns around game control by coordinating referee training clinics. We implemented a gender inclusion policy to support the safety of trans folx. We implemented league management software to streamline registration and standings. We learned the names of every player; we wanted participants to feel like they were part of a community.
Of course, there were significant challenges too. Most notably, we found that tracking standings and scores led some players to prioritize winning over being considerate and respectful to other players. Despite only a few players acting this way, there was a big impact. In retrospect, we regret not acting earlier and more decisively in these situations. They had a major negative impact on the gym atmosphere on game nights (and player retention, as a result). Community-building has always been central to Island Hoops, and we will be defending it more vigorously in the future.
As you can see, taking on 3X3 League was a substantial learning experience. It was a lot of unpaid, unseen work; administrative and emotional. We’re proud of so much of what we did, but it’s not something we’re able to keep doing. That said, as basketball players ourselves, we highly value having a non-men’s league in town. Since mid-2025, we have been in communication with various organizations about setting a league up for long-term success. We look forward to sharing details as soon as things are finalized.
QUEER COMMUNITY
From 2023-2025, Island Hoops was the only local organized adult basketball that didn’t centre the experience of cisgender men. This is no longer the case, as a group of Island Hoops participants started a new registered drop-in group for women in early 2026.
Since its inception, a consistent majority of Island Hoops participants have been queer-identified. In the current political climate, with persistent attacks on trans rights alongside the rise of fascism, in a city known for having the most trans people per capita in the country, we see a need for more queer spaces.
So, due to increasing local opportunities for women’s basketball, and in response to ongoing attacks on 2SLGBTQ+ rights, Island Hoops will be focusing on offering basketball programs for queer people. We care deeply about our trans-masculine, trans-feminine & non-binary / gender non-conforming players, and will continue to hold space for them.
THANK YOU!
Finally, a big thank-you to everyone who came out and helped grow our little grassroots basketball community. We're looking forward to bringing queer basketball drop-in nights and tournaments back to lək̓ʷəŋən lands in mid 2027 - when our little organizing group has stable knees and more degrees!
See you on the court,
-your Island Hoops directors
looking for somewhere to play until we return? we recommend checking out the following sports groups doing great work in their communities.
Trans-inclusive local adult rec sports, whose leadership Island Hoops can personally vouch for:
- South Island Flag Football
- Vancouver Island Ball Hockey League (women's division)
You can also check out @queerislandsports on Instagram, which catalogues the multitude of queer-specific adult rec sport opportunities on the island.
Donate to and go watch local Indigenous girls basketball QELAXEṈ (via Coastal Wave)!
Awesome groups on the mainland that we've partnered with over the years:
WAit, what's Island Hoops?
A consistent majority of Island Hoops participants are queer-identified. In today’s political climate, surrounded by persistent attacks on trans rights and the rise of fascism, we have made a decision to focus on being an actively welcoming space for the queer community.
From 2023-2025, Island Hoops programs welcomed everyone except cisgender men.
Looking forward, Island Hoops programs will be centred around the queer community.
Past programs include:
- 2023-2025: Year-round weekly indoor drop-in basketball
- 2024-2025: Summer Hoops at the Crystal Pool outdoor basketball courts
- 2024: Trip to Vancouver for a social mixer and "Island vs Mainland" friendly game with Queer Van Hoops
- 2024: The inaugural 2024 Queer Hoops Jamboree tournament
- 2024: Coordination of a wholesale group-buy for size 6 indoor basketballs
- 2024: Two trips to Vancouver to participate in 3X3 Clutch tournaments
- 2025: Two 3X3 officiating (refereeing) training clinics specifically for genderqueer people and women
- 2025: Two seasons of 3X3 League
Check out photos from past programs here.
Follow us on Instagram at @islandhoopsbasketball.
Island Hoops in the news:
"Island Hoops Basketball Society hosts Women's NCAA Championship Game watch party" (CBC Radio One) April 4, 2025.