Genre
Synopsis
The odds of a female high school student receiving a basketball scholarship to college in the United States are very slim, with less than 3% of athletes succeeding. What makes Hong Kong’s Strive Foundation program so special, is that currently 100% of its graduates have accepted scholarships to play basketball at schools in the United States.
Yannie Chan (23), the first graduate of Strive Foundation’s Gold Team program, made history as the first woman from Hong Kong to receive a basketball scholarship from a US college when she was recruited by NCAA Division 3 Emmanuel College in 2021. She had an outstanding second season, excelling as the starting point guard with an average of 14.6 points per game, earning the GNAC Player of the Year award and representing Hong Kong on the national team at the 2023 Asian games. Yannie then transferred to NCAA Division 1 Iona University in New York, where her 24/25 season was tragically de-railed by an ACL tear that required surgery and an entire year off to recover. With her sights set firmly on a triumphant comeback, Yannie has surmounted both physical and mental health hurdles. She is determined to return to the court not just stronger, but also wiser, understanding that she must deliver the season of a lifetime to fulfill her aspiration of entering the WNBA draft in April 2026. The weight of expectation she places on herself is significant, as Yannie cannot envision a future without basketball.
When Luigi Lam's family emigrated to the UK in 2023, she made the choice to remain in Hong Kong with her grandmother to fully commit to basketball. Her hard work paid off when she was recruited by Illinois Wesleyan University, a NCAA Division 3 basketball program, and awarded a partial scholarship. The Strive Foundation stepped in to raise funds for the remaining tuition, as the financial strain would have been too great for her low-income family. However, this means she won't be able to afford flights to visit them until after her graduation in 2028. At college in the United States, Luigi has excelled on the court during her team's inaugural season, making it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA championship. A gifted visual artist, a straight-A student, and an outstanding athlete, Luigi now faces the dilemma of which path to pursue for her future. While she yearns for her home, she has been welcomed by her teammate's family as a second daughter, recently getting baptized and fully embracing Christianity, which has begun to challenge her evolving sense of identity.
Until very recently, Cubie Leung (19) believed that attending university in Hong Kong was a distant dream, let alone in the United States. Despite being one of Hong Kong's top female basketball players, Cubie faced academic challenges throughout her local high school experience. However, Coach Will from the Strive Foundation discovered a pathway to the NCAA through a Junior College, which had significantly lower grade requirements. In fall 2024, Cubie commenced her studies at Odessa Junior College in Texas, having earned a full athletic scholarship. Now, she must perform exceptionally well this season in order to attract the attention of Division 1 coaches who often recruit talent from the college’s competitive basketball program. Cubie is committed to transforming her weaknesses into strengths, both on and off the court. Her tenacity and hard work have already started paying off, as she navigates the challenges of balancing academic demands with her intense, new training schedule. Cubie's story is one of resilience and perseverance, highlighting the importance of support systems like the Strive Foundation that believe in potential beyond immediate circumstances.
Current member of the Gold Team, Nancy (18), comes from mainland China originally. She and her mother relocated to Hong Kong during the Covid-19 pandemic to escape an abusive family member. Since their arrival, she has worked hard to learn Cantonese, and thanks to Strive Foundation, has secured a scholarship to an international school. However, Nancy continues to grapple with some lingering trauma, which sometimes leads to self-sabotage and her failing to fulfil her potential. It’s now essential for her to focus on her mental health to make progress. During the 2025 US summer tour, Nancy showcased her skills and caught the attention of several college coaches, but needs to achieve a passing grade on her TOEFL exams to improve her chances of being recruited. Without the required grades, her dreams of playing basketball in the United States will fail to materialise.
The stories of these young women are not only significant because they highlight individual triumphs over adversity, but also because they serve as powerful examples of breaking barriers and redefining possibilities. Each of these athletes has faced unique challenges, whether it's overcoming financial constraints, language barriers, cultural adjustments, or personal trauma, and yet they continue to pursue their dreams with unwavering determination. Their journeys underscore the profound impact of support systems like the Strive Foundation, which plays a crucial role in nurturing talent and providing opportunities that might otherwise remain inaccessible. By shining a light on their experiences, these stories inspire countless others who may find themselves in similar circumstances, encouraging them to persevere and believe in their potential. Furthermore, they contribute to a broader narrative about the importance of inclusivity and diversity in sports, illustrating how talent recognizes no geographical or socio-economic boundaries. As these young women chart new paths and defy the odds, they not only transform their own lives but also pave the way for future generations of aspiring athletes.
Bio
Joanna Bowers is a British Director, Producer and Screenwriter based in Hong Kong with a focus on telling inspiring, international stories featuring unlikely heroines on journeys to achieve the extraordinary.
Her screenwriting projects have recently reach the semi-finals of The Writer’s Lab US and The Athena List 2024.
Originally from the UK, Joanna earned her degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Leeds. After graduation, Joanna relocated to Los Angeles where she began working in television commercial production as a director’s assistant and treatment writer, before roles in development and casting. She was also a member of Theatricum Botanicum theatre company and Upright Citizens Brigade.
Joanna began directing narrative short films in 2009, working with female writers to tell original stories from unique perspectives and her films screened at festivals including Palm Springs and Louisville International film festivals. She then relocated to Hong Kong where she landed commercial and documentary assignments throughout Asia for brands including The North Face, Cathay Pacific, HSBC and various NGOs.
Joanna’s feature documentary debut "The Helper" exploring the immense maternal sacrifices of migrant domestic workers was funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign and went on to a sold out 3 month theatrical run and international distribution with releases on SVOD and streaming platforms including iTunes, AmazonPrime and and NatGeo. The film’s impact campaign gathered thousands of gestures of appreciation for migrant workers in the region.
Refocussing her directorial lens onto the environment, Joanna’s second feature documentary "reFashioned" profiled three passionate Hong Kongers spearheading radical solutions to the problems created by fast fashion. “reFashioned” premiered at Doc DMZ in Korea and Hawaii International Film Festival before theatrical releases in Hong Kong and Japan and was acquired for international distribution by Gravitas Ventures.
Joanna is currently in production on a documentary profiling seven rising-star, female basketball players from Hong Kong with their sights on America’s WNBA, hoping to make a fast-break play towards the world’s most elite sports teams.
