Dan Grida brings the energy to Girls in the Game at Berkeley
13 Oct 2026
1
min read


Girls in the Game returned to Illawarra Sports Stadium in Berkeley on Tuesday 6th October, and Hawks fan favourite Daniel Grida turned up ready to play.
Delivered in partnership with Greater Bank, the two-hour clinic was open to girls aged 5 to 12 at every skill level. Some had never held a basketball. Some play every weekend. From 1:30pm to 3:30pm, they all did the same thing: played.
Dan Grida, Hype Man
Dan came down in a Girls in the Game tee and didn’t stand still all afternoon. He fired up the youngest group before their drills, handed out high-fives down the line and finished with a marker in hand, signing the girls’ shirts.
For plenty of the girls on court, it was the first time they had met a Hawks player up close. For Dan, it was three days out from back-to-back home games against Tasmania and Cairns, and he still made the time to be there.

Coached by Women Who Play
The promise behind Girls in the Game hasn’t changed. Girls only. Female coaches. Built for beginners without boring the girls who already play.
Our coaches worked in small groups all afternoon, so nobody got lost at the back of a line. Every girl had a ball, and the skills went straight into games the same afternoon, which is the part the kids rate highest every time.
Watching a five-year-old who walked in nervous leave asking when the next one is, that’s exactly why we run this.”
Maddy Delaney, Community Engagement Coordinator

Why We Keep Running It
Basketball doesn’t get talked about as a girls’ sport in this region. That’s the real barrier, and it’s fixable. Every clinic puts more girls on court, more confidence in their hands and more reasons to come back.
Families told us after our July holiday programs that they agreed: 90% said they would come again, and they rated how the day was run 4.7 out of 5.
Want to see Dan in red and black?
The Hawks are back at WIN Entertainment Centre on Thursday 22nd October against the Sydney Kings.
Get Her in the Game
Every player starts with one first shot. Registration details for the next clinic go to the Hawks email list first, so get on it now and she won’t miss out.

Girls in the Game is delivered in partnership with Greater Bank, who back this program because more girls in Illawarra basketball is worth backing.
STRONGER. LOUDER. TOGETHER.

19 Aug
Network 10 named NBL free-to-air partner

18 Aug
Jessup's Summer League sojourn done - does the NBA await?

16 Aug
Huge Duop-portunity ahead for Hawks marquee man

11 Aug
Peoplecare 'Healthy Habits' program goes online during pandemic

4 Aug
‘Hawks In Business’ Takes Flight

2 Aug
Hawks unveil Antonius Cleveland as final piece of puzzle

29 Jul
Hawks putting in the work before a return to the nest
Daniel Grida
Harry Froling
Sam Froling
Tyler Harvey

27 Jul
NBL secures history-making media deal

21 Jul
Harry Froling joins brother Sam at the Illawarra Hawks
Harry Froling

20 Jul
Travis Trice returns to the NBL - signs deal with Hawks

19 Jul
Illawarra Hawks and Max Darling to go separate ways

7 Jul
Hawks go from strength to strength with key off-court acquisition

6 Jul
Hawks captain AJ Ogilvy signs on for another season
5 Jul
Four in Four for the Hawks

5 Jul
Hawks re-sign sharpshooting Isaac White

5 Jul
Hawks secure signature of Tyler Harvey for three more seasons
Tyler Harvey
Support your team with the latest gear
Grab your latest team releases before they're gone.

Get the latest Team Updates
Breaking news & special offers. Direct to your inbox.

