Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/951849
KATE D. | 17 | WYCKOFF, NJ The Athlete: Brianna is currently a junior in a Chicagoland high school focusing on her basketball skills, both at her school and for a local AAU team. She has been hooping it up since she was six years old and although she also played some softball and soccer, her passion is on the hard court. 1-10: "I would give my uniforms an 8 and my shoes a 6 or 7, mostly because there aren't a lot of sneakers made just for girls so my friends and I usually end up buying shoes made for boys. They fit okay, but it would be nice to have more of a choice of girls' shoes." Likes and Dislikes: "I love how my uniforms look, but I don't like how they fit. Although they have gotten better, too often they seem like they were made for boys and just made a little smaller for us. And like I said before, I don't like that there aren't a lot of bas- ketball sneakers made for girls." Better or Worse: "Don't get me wrong, I think my basketball gear and clothes have actually gotten a lot better since I started playing basketball. The quality is certainly better and I love that they wick moisture away now, instead of the old sweaty T-shirts we used to wear. The uniform shirts cover us a lot better now, too. And the basketballs are so much better now than they used to be." For Girls Only: "There is definitely more girls' stuff out there, especially in clothes — our uniforms and warm-ups. I like that they have made the girls' clothes and uniforms as good as what the boys wear — we buy just as much stuff and we spend just as much money, probably more." For the Boys: "I buy mostly shoes from the boys' sec- tion at the store, but I always check out the girls' styles first. Unfortunately, the boys' shoes are usually better than the girls', plus there are a lot more of them. It's not big deal because they still fit and are comfortable right away." Where to Shop: "One of my favorite times is going to Dick's Spor ting Goods before the season starts to see what's new. I used to go to Sports Authority, too, but they aren't here any more. I will look at shoes online, mostly at nike.com, but I rarely buy there unless I know exactly how a shoe or shirt fits already." Favorite Gear: "Oh, definitely my socks. I have so many color combinations that I use them to make a fashion statement every practice — we have to wear the team socks for games. And I like my high school sweatshirt, which I wear literally everywhere. I got it when I first made varsity, so in addition to being comfortable and looking good I am proud to wear it around." Horror Stories: "I had a wardrobe malfunction once when my sports bra ripped during a game, but at least I had a full shirt on at the time so the damage – and my embarrassment – was minimal." Message to the Industry: "I guess it would be to keep up the good work and don't forget that girls want and deserve products that are as good as what you make for the boys. We can be very loyal if you are good to us, so please pay attention." Q The Athlete: Kate has played soccer since she was four-years old, the past 10 years for a club team and high school soccer for the past four years. (Last season her high school team won the New Jersey state championship.) She has done karate for about seven years and has played lacrosse and run track. On a Scale of 1-10: "I would probably give the equipment a 7. Sometimes the soccer balls can be very hard or too soft — it is hard to find a happy medium with them. Also, the pads in karate break kind of easily." Likes and Dislikes: "I like how sports equipment and gear can be personalized. However, the fit of some brands, such as Under Armour, run very small. I wish that all of the sports apparel brands could communicate with each other on sizing. Also, the companies that make shinguards should rethink the effectiveness of their product. The shinguards that slip into the socks are completely unsafe; however, they are the easiest to use so most people opt for them. There is no ankle protec- tion on them. Better or Worse: "Apparel has improved greatly since the beginning of my sports career. At the beginning, there were barely any synthetic options for clothing, only cotton. The synthetic clothing is much more useful because it dries so much faster and is lighter. Also, color and logo options have greatly expanded." For Girls Only: "Shoes designed for girls have pretty much stayed the same. The styles and colors have obviously evolved. The only think that I can think of that has changed is the fit of women's clothing. Shirts and shorts used to be more boxy, but now they are more fitted for women's chests and hips." For the Boys: "I don't buy boys' stuff that often. My Adidas cleats were made for men, but I wanted to buy them." Where to Buy: "I bought my sports equipment at Sports Authority until it went out of business. I also have used Nike.com and local sports stores." Favorite Gear: "My apparel." Horror Stories: "My Nike cleats – the worst type to get – have fallen apart on multiple occasions. Sometimes the entire sole of the shoe will rip off. I have experienced this with my cleats and have seen this happen to my teammates shoes as well." Message to the Industry: "Nike, please take more time and spend more money on making your shoes." Q BRIANNA S. | 16 | CHICAGO, IL "Shirts and shorts used to be more boxy, now they are more fitted for women's chests and hips." "I don't like that there aren't a lot of sneakers made for girls." GIRLS' & WOMEN'S SPORTS / OPINION 16 Team Insight / March 2018 teaminsightmag.com