Daring Moves
IntroducingAlex Taylor
of Hoop York CityThe founder of Hoop York City, Alex is building a community of women who come together with a collective mission to hoop together and close the gender play gap in the process. Hoop York City has grown from a single mixer event to a network of over 400 women.
Daring to close the play gap like a baller.
What led you to create Hoop York City?
I founded Hoop York City in July of 2018. I was living uptown at the time and I was frustrated by how hard it was to find a court to play on that wasn’t packed with men and where the games weren’t super competitive. I had to go on off hours, which wasn’t ideal. One day I got a random call from a friend who just moved to New York and was working at a gym with two state of the art NBA regulation sized basketball courts. She shared my frustration about men dominating the courts and wanted to know if I’d be interested in organizing a women’s game at her gym.
I started reaching out to people I knew who played. I put a listing on Meetup.com. The turnout for our first game was amazing. We had spectators. I got a beer and wine sponsor so we could have a post-game celebration. The energy was so incredible that I knew I had to keep it going.
So it all happened rather serendipitously. And it’s since expanded beyond basketball to encompass art, fashion and community service—all with the aim of providing women with meaningful connections and opportunities.
I don’t mind being the underdog—it makes it all the sweeter when you succeed.
-Alex TaylorWhy do you think Hoop York City has been so successful?
I think there are a lot of factors that have contributed to its success. But ultimately, it’s the message and the mission that really resonates with people. We’ve been able to bring together all these women from different walks of life, with different experiences and skill levels, and who might never have crossed paths if not for Hoop York City. We’ve created a space that’s safe and inclusive, where there’s no ego and we don't keep score, and where anyone can come in and feel like they belong. And I think that's really where the magic lies. That’s what makes it so special and attractive to people.
What does being daring mean to you?
Being daring means being relentless in your pursuits—in whatever it is that fuels your passion and brings you peace within. As a community leader, I have to make dozens of decisions on behalf of a whole community of women who are counting on me to do right by them. That’s empowered me to never take no for an answer, and to be relentless in my goal to bring Hoop York City to the forefront of basketball in New York and beyond. That’s my purpose. And this is way bigger than me.
“Being daring means being relentless in your pursuits—in whatever it is that fuels your passion and brings you peace within.”
- Alex Taylor