Working with a local nonprofit, Phoenix artist Antoinette Cauley painted a mural to celebrate women’s basketball. And she chose to highlight the talents of some younger players in the Valley.
Cauley has done a number of public art projects in Phoenix. You may have seen her 9-story portrait of James Baldwin on Roosevelt Street.
When Downtown Phoenix Inc., a nonprofit promoting economic development in the city, approached her to commission a mural celebrating the Women’s Final Four, she says she had a gut feeling about what to do.
“So I had the idea, like instantly, that I should paint and highlight high school girl basketball players from around the Valley in the mural,” Cauley said.
She got in touch with local high school coaches and did her own research to find players to feature in the mural.
“I looked for girls who, if I spoke to community members or teachers or families, they would have nothing but good things to say. And just girls with so much heart and skill and … they're all incredibly impressive. I went to see all of them play before I painted the mural … I was like, yo, I can't paint them and not go to the game. Like, I have to see them play. I’ve got to go support them. And I knew … I could feed off of that energy as well,” Cauley said.
She landed on four players from across metro Phoenix.
Jaiyana Bogan-Jacobs is a freshman and point guard at Campo Verde High School in Gilbert.
“Ever since I stepped on the court, I've been loving basketball. … And to me, it's my everything. This is like, my life. So when I found out about this, it made me even want to work even harder for it. … I can't believe I'm on a wall and that everyone else can see. And I'm really proud of myself for that,” Bogan-Jacobs said.
Dashia Richardson is a junior and a point guard at Millennium High School in Goodyear. Her team just won the state championship for the second year in a row.
“I've been playing basketball since I was 6 years old, so I've loved the game. I've watched the game. March Madness is my favorite time of the year. So, just to see myself up there and during this movement of women's sports, just growing, it feels good to really be a part of it. … I'd never had someone come and paint me or do anything like that. So, honestly, it was really wholesome. And I'm really thankful for the opportunity,” Richardson said.
Also featured in the mural are freshmen point guards Tahjie Freeman at North High School and Kolbi Brooks at Desert Vista.
Cauley says this project meant a lot to her, as a former basketball player and forever fan herself. Especially given the explosion of interest in the WNBA and women’s sports overall.
“This mural is so important right now because there's so much attention on the league that we need to pull that into other areas as well, and make sure that people don't forget that these girls are going to be in these leagues one day," Cauley said.
"You know, these are future leaders in our communities. Like these are girls that, you know, little girls are going to look up to and want to play like one day too, so … this mural, I really want it to serve as a call to action to people to support these girls and any girls in our community who need it,” she added.
The mural, titled “We Got Next," sits near Second and Adams streets, across the street from Symphony Hall.
The NCAA Women’s Tournament wraps up Sunday afternoon with the championship game in downtown Phoenix.
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