At Team IMPACT, we believe in the transformative power of team. This season, the NYU women’s basketball team had a historic season that capped off with a National Championship win—and they gained a lifelong teammate and sister along the way in nine-year-old Amina.
When Amina, who lives with sickle cell disease, was officially matched with NYU basketball in April of 2024, it was clear from the start that something special was forming. But neither Amina nor the NYU basketball program knew at the time just how integral she would become to the team’s heart and success, both on and off the court.
“Being on the team makes me feel good and happy,” Amina said. “It makes me feel joyful.” And that joy has been contagious.
From warmups to team dinners, from cheering courtside to cutting down the net in celebration, Amina was there for every moment. “My favorite memory was being able to see them win the championship, because it was so good to enjoy and see how proud they were and their families, too,” she said. “I was so proud of them—they worked hard. It was exciting to cheer them on.”
Amina’s mom, Queena, saw firsthand how impactful and influential this connection became. “This experience means support, hope, and genuine love for my family,” she said. “Seeing Amina excited, supporting the team, looking forward to attending games, seeing them on TV, or just wanting to share something with them made our family happy to know she has another support system that brings a feeling of belonging.”
That sense of belonging quickly grew into something profound. Amina prepared for the championship game like any team player—joining warmups and even grabbing a piece of the net during the post-game celebration. “It was wonderful and positive,” she recalled. “I was surprised when Coach called me to get a piece of the net like everyone else on the team. I loved the celebrating.”
Though winning the National Championship was an incredible experience for Queena, her favorite moments all stem in the positive changes she’s witnessed in Amina since joining the team. Seeing Amina truly belong has been life-changing, Queena says, showing Amina the hard work and preparation that result in success. “My favorite memory with the team has been the consistent sense of inclusion for Amina,” Queena said. “Watching Amina work out and try to mimic what the ladies were doing showed me just how much she adores and values them but also allowed her to see firsthand what it takes in order to prepare to succeed.”
Because of this, Queena says, Amina’s confidence and self-assurance have grown as well. She is more willing to talk to people, share her story more confidently, and trust that she has support from her entire team. “She brags about them all,” Queena said.
And what Amina and Queena feel for the team, the team feels right back. Assistant Coach Annie Harper Barrett, who participated in Team IMPACT as a student-athlete, joined the Team IMPACT Fellowship program, and even interned at Team IMPACT, summed it up by saying, “We call ourselves the ‘sisterhood’ and Amina has fit in perfectly.”
“Oftentimes people assume that Amina is the primary beneficiary of this partnership,” she continued, “but the joy and excitement that Amina has brought to our team is unmatched. Our girls and our staff light up when they see Amina. Regardless of what she’s going through, she is always so positive and cheerful when we see her. Her energy is unmatched, and she truly does light up a room.”
This season, Amina’s energy became part of NYU’s winning formula. Whether sending good luck videos or cheering from the stands, she reminded the team what they were playing for and motivated them with her loud cheers from the crowd, her stylish NYU violet outfits, and her constant support.
“Our success this year is in great part due to the people around us, including Amina. She is a constant reminder that we are playing and doing this for something bigger than ourselves, and her support of our girls is unmatched,” Coach Annie continued. “Even if Amina’s having a bad day or week, she’s always sure to send us positive vibes. We could not do this without her.”
Coach Annie credits a lot of Amina’s positivity to Queena’s influence. “I want to give a shoutout to her mother, Queena, who has been an invaluable part of this experience,” she said, “not only from a logistical standpoint of bringing Amina to the games and events, but Queena herself is an incredibly positive light and is always supporting us.”
For Amina, Queena, and the entire NYU basketball program, it was always about more than basketball. Amina grew in confidence, proudly sharing her teammates’ accomplishments with her family and even turning them into fans themselves. Queena recalled a game where Amina brought her younger cousin with her, cheering together and celebrating on the court after the win. “They felt like rockstars,” Queena said. “I thank Team IMPACT and the team for making these wonderful opportunities that make a supportive difference.”
“One loving and funny moment in Virginia was prior to the game,” Queena recalled, “teammate Kelsey’s grandma came to meet Amina and told Amina she had heard so much about her and was glad to meet her in person. Amina looked at me with surprise and said, ‘Mommy, Kelsey talks about me to her family too, just like I talk about her!’”
Coach Annie agreed that these are the moments that define what Team IMPACT is all about—creating lifelong bonds, building resilience, and celebrating every kind of win. These are the moments that drew her to the program as a student-athlete and kept her involved all these years later. “As someone who has seen it from multiple levels, our team truly appreciates all of the hard work that goes into making these relationships not only happen but flourish and grow,” she said. “Having been a part of it this year, we can’t imagine our team without Amina and her family. Having Amina and Queena in Virginia for our National Championship game was truly the cherry on top!”
Congratulations to the NYU women’s basketball team on their historic season—and to Amina, a National Champion in every way.
