Pacific Womens Sports Leadership
Pualele Craig – Samoa
Pualele Craig is a true inspiration, passionate about empowering women and girls to participate in basketball at all levels of the sport. Her Samoan and First Nations/Indigenous Canadian heritage have given her a perspective on the world that fuels her determination and drive.
Pualele’s goal is to create a regular Girls and Women’s Basketball League in Samoa, focusing on engaging females in basketball and progressing their development and participation at all levels of the sport; playing, coaching, officiating and administration.
She earned both a Bachelor and Master of Law degree from the University of the South Pacific, but her true passion lies in basketball. Pualele volunteers extensively in the Samoa basketball community as a coach and administrator.
Pualele’s vision is growth, education, and opportunity for Samoan girls and women. She believes basketball can provide many benefits, including physical health, social connections, educational opportunities, and mental well-being.
Despite the challenges she anticipates, such as navigating the longstanding male hierarchy in Samoa Basketball and funding, Pualele is determined to see her project through. She plans to use the skills she learned in the Pasifika Women in sports programme to establish a board or committee of women to create the Girls/Women League, enlisting the help of various government and community stakeholders to ensure its continuity and sustainability.
Pualele’s journey towards her goal is sure to be inspiring and full of challenges. By following her progress, readers and followers can learn more about the importance of women and girls participating in sports, and how they can help make a difference.
