Baltimore is a basketball city and not just on the men’s side. Some of the best female players in the country have come out of the metro area for decades. Bethel League Founder and CEO, Akilah Bethel, a former LSU standout has built something new and exciting in Baltimore to showcase the area’s rich talent pool.
Before staring at LSU and for professional overseas teams in Australia, Europe, Asia, and Puerto Rico, Bethel honed her skills on the Baltimore basketball circuit.
“Baltimore is home,” said Bethel. “I was born and raised here and no matter where I play in the world, I know I can compete because I was prepared in one of the best basketball cities in the country.”
Some of the best basketball talent in the city and Maryland will take part in the first annual summer basketball Bethel League played by Concordia Prep in Towson. Former high school stars who have played overseas like Digital Harbor’s Asia Logan, Seton Keough’s Achiri Ade, and Archbishop Spaulding’s Shaquilla Curtis, are playing according to the league.
You can also find other Baltimore Sun All-Metro Players of the Year and All-Metro teams. St. Francis standouts like Breezi Hutchen (Univ. of Alabama), Shatyra Hawkes (Xavier University), and Tasia Bristow (Delaware State) are playing alongside City College’s LaShay Taft (Syracuse University), Dunbar’s Shelly Wright (Shaw University), Patterson’s Ciara Webb (Towson University), and Kenwood’s Alynn Sankar (Delaware State).
With the high level of local players, it’s no surprise that former local college players have also flocked to join teams in the league. Towson University, Morgan State, and UMBC have former players on multiple teams in the league. Bowie State and UDC also have representation in the league.
Some former WNBA players from out of town have joined teams in the league. Former University of Tennessee two-time SEC player of the year award winner and Atlanta Dream player, Meighan Simmons joined Bethel’s team this season. Former DePaul standout and Chicago Sky player, Amarah Coleman also joined Bethel’s team in its inaugural season.
The league also attracted a team from the DC/Prince George’s County area that boasts former Connecticut Sun player Lyndra Littles.
“The purpose of the league is to fill the void in women’s basketball in Baltimore and connect the girls playing now with veterans and legends in the Baltimore basketball community,” Bethel added. “We also have players from other cities and states that want to continue to play at a high level and the Bethel offers them that chance. My goal is to make the Bethel League the premier women’s basketball league in the country.”
Follow the league and players on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bethelleague.
