Operation Hoops for Humanity: 2021-2024

A successful mission:

In partnership with FIFA and International Olympic Committee Member Samira Asghari, and UT Center for Sport, Peace & Society, Equality League helped to evacuate and resettle 30 members of the Afghan women’s basketball community in the USA.
In the Summer of 2023, group members arrived in Knoxville, Tennessee, where they are rebuilding their lives.

Our Story: Operation Hoops for Humanity

As the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, one of their first acts was to ban women and girls from playing sports. Female athletes, including national team players with strong media profiles, frantically burned their jerseys, buried their trophies, deactivated social media accounts, destroyed certificates, and hid other links to sport that could lead to reprisals. Then, they hid themselves and waited.

Afghan female athletes were largely forgotten and ignored by sport bodies, governments, human rights and refugee agencies - leaving individuals like Samira Asghari and charitable organizations like Equality League (EQL) and the University of Tennessee Center for Sport, Peace & Society to step in to help safeguard and support these high-risk individuals.

In October 2021, we succeeded in safeguarding 30 members of the Afghan basketball community. In partnership with FIFA (International Football Federation), Equality League helped evacuate current and former national team players, provincial players, coaches and a few relatives. They left their homes, families, friends, jobs and country with as little as one backpack and Canadian visa letters that the country ultimately refused to honor. Instead, the Afghans transited through Qatar and then to Albania where they were stranded without a destination for nearly 1-1/2 years.

Advocating for a Resettlement Country - December 2021 through May 2022

Equality League built a coalition to support the Afghan women athletes’ advocacy efforts calling for Canada and other countries to open their borders so that they may rebuild their lives, resume their educations, safely play sport, and pursue employment to support loved ones left behind. Coalition members included UT Center for Sport, Peace & Society, Athletes for Hope, Athlete Ally, Athletes for Impact, Global Athlete, equity sport, and Sheex. International Sports Press Association announced our campaign in January 2022.

Rebuilding Their Lives in the USA

In May 2022, the USA agreed to accept their applications for resettlement and in October 2022, they received their case numbers and confirmation. We partnered with Dr. Sarah Hillyer and Michelle Marciniak to make Knoxville, Tennessee, the home for approximately half of the basketball players. Between May and July 2023, the Afghans arrived in Knoxville—home of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the legendary Pat Summitt’s Lady Vols.

Prior to their arrival, we met the Knoxville community and advocated for their support. The average age of the young women was only 22 years old when they evacuated and one as young as 16. Through a collective effort, the Afghans received English language training, cars, bicycles, clothing, and YMCA memberships. They quickly settled into new homes, secured jobs, and earned their driver’s licenses.

Receiving Green Cards

Equality League found a lawyer and our Knoxville-based partners raised funds to cover all application fees. As of February 2024, nearly all members of the group have received their green cards.

Advocating for Afghan Women’s Rights - 2025

As the Knoxville-based Afghans enjoy their independence, Equality League and Samira Asghari continue to partner on efforts to keep the plight of Afghan women in the international spotlight. Our final goal of Operation Hoops is to advocate for the restoration of the human rights to education and sports for the 21 million women and girls who remain in Afghanistan under harsh Taliban restrictions. We will support Samira to build a cohort of exiled Afghan women athletes and train them as advocates.