For Danja Stafford-Collins, sports have always been an important part of life. Danja grew up in a home full of art, music, sports, and laughter, surrounded by her parents and seven siblings—of which Danja is the only girl. Many members of Danja’s family played or currently play sports both at a collegiate and professional level, so becoming an athlete was quite literally in Danja’s blood.
Growing up in a household of mostly boys, Danja quickly learned the power of having female role models, especially as she focused more and more on her athletics career. Danja’s mom was a basketball, volleyball, and track and field athlete in college, and she has multiple female cousins who compete or have competed at the collegiate level. “Being a part of sports has impacted me in so many ways, especially because I don’t have any sisters,” Danja said. “Getting to play with and for strong women has helped me find confidence in myself, has helped me become a better leader, and has helped me build positive relationships that will last forever.”
Danja’s collegiate basketball journey began at Santa Clara, where she first heard of Team IMPACT. Her team was matched with a girl named Mia, and Danja immediately fell in love with the program. Danja became a Team IMPACT Fellow, and when she transferred to Utah Valley the next season, she brought Team IMPACT with her. In her first season as Wolverine, her team was matched with five-year-old Emery.
“The power of being involved in Team IMPACT is that it broadens the circle of impact that sports has,” Danja said. “It is important for Emery to have our team as her role models because she is able to see that girls are more than just one thing. They can be strong and kind. They can be tough and beautiful. They can be athletic and smart. She can look up to us and know that she can be anything she chooses to be!”
Danja credits Emery with helping her grow, not only as an athlete but as a woman as well. “Emery is the heart and soul of our team. She has taught me how to be patient, how to be strong, and how to have courage,” Danja said. “She brings so much light and goodness to every game, practice, and team event she comes to. We play better when she is around, we have more fun, and there are definitely smiles across everyone’s faces whenever Emery enters the gym. We are so lucky to have her as a part of our team.”
For Emery, the experience has been equally empowering. “Having this team of women who treat Emery as family has brought so much joy in our lives!” said Emery’s mom, Talia. “Watching her connect with such strong, positive role models brings us so much comfort. It’s heartwarming to see how their kindness and love lifts her spirits.”
When Emery first joined the team, she was a bit shy. But through repeated, seemingly small touch points of support and love, Emery slowly came out of her shell, and her confidence blossomed. “It makes us so happy and proud every time we go to practices and see how the team interacts with Emery. They always play so nicely with her—whether it’s helping her dribble, playing tag, or just running around and having fun,” Talia said. “At games, it’s so special when they come out of the locker room, spot Emery, and take the time to wave and say hi. Those small but meaningful moments show just how much they care.”
The consistency of these moments, no matter how big or small, solidified Emery as a vital part of the team and helped her feel like she belongs. Near the end of each game, the team invites Emery to move to the bench with them. Talia remembers a time when Emery was hesitant and nervous to do so, but with each game and each repeated invite, her comfort and confidence grew. This past game, Talia was shocked when Emery not only moved to the bench with no hesitation but also joined her teammates in the post-game high-five line with the opposing team. Emery even joins the team in the locker room after wins to celebrate. “It’s amazing to see her light up in those moments,” Talia said. “Before this experience, she used to be very shy about meeting people or being away from us, but now she’s stepping out of her shell and feeling more comfortable in new situations.”
Emery has only been on the team for six months, but in that short time, both she and the team have been changed for life. “Having Emery on our team is setting up a standard for kindness and love across sports for generations to come,” Danja said. “She is the perfect example of loving everyone without any hesitation, and she has shown us that the power of kindness can be amplified by sports. She’s inspiring teams and young girls everywhere to be authentically themselves and expressing that through sports! We love that she’s an example to us and to women’s sports as a whole.”
“We hope that through her time with the team, Emery gains even more confidence and builds lasting friendships with these incredible women,” Talia said. “We want her to learn toughness and the power of perseverance, and most importantly, to understand the true value of friendship. We also hope the team learns from Emery’s strength, her resilience, and her ability to love. Their connection with her shows them how much a small act of kindness can truly impact someone.”
“Female athletes are such important role models for young girls like Emery,” she continued. “They show them that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. Beyond that, they teach the value of leadership, teamwork, and perseverance, while empowering girls to believe in themselves and break down barriers. Watching women in sports helps girls like Emery realize they can dream big.”
