Somali-American Basketball: Girls’ Hoops Haven – Twin Cities
Discover how former pro basketball player Jamad Fiin is empowering young girls in St. Paul through basketball, creating a true sports haven. Fiin, a Somali-American leader, is using her skills and influence to inspire teh next generation both on and off the court as part of a Somali basketball movement.This open gym initiative directly addresses the need for more sports opportunities for girls. News Directory 3 is proud to highlight this amazing effort. See how Fiin’s dedication is making a difference, and what’s in store for her future programs.Discover what’s next …
Jamad fiin Brings Basketball Skills to St. Paul Girls
Updated June 18, 2025
Fourteen-year-old Nubia rhamato recently met one of her heroes, Jamad Fiin, at the North End Community Center in St. Paul.
Fiin, a former professional basketball player with somalia’s national team and a social media influencer with over 3 million followers, led a girls-only open gym session.
“I follow her!” Rhamato exclaimed.
Habiba Feki, rhamato’s mother, was equally thrilled. Fiin, who wears a hijab, plans to continue the sessions on Thursday evenings throughout the summer.
“We really need something like this,” Feki, of Woodbury, said, noting the importance of providing opportunities for girls, especially during the summer. “We don’t want them just sitting home on the phone all the time… As a parent, we just let the boys go to play, but we don’t send the girls.”
As a basketball captain at Emmanuel Collage in Boston, Fiin was known for her intensity and patience.her hijab and stylish appearance challenged norms, earning her a spot in a Google Pixel ad.
“She taught me everything,” said yan Man, an athlete from Hong Kong who joined Emmanuel College’s team.“She was helping me to adapt to everything,from basketball to life in general… Younger girls really looked up to her.”
Man later transferred to Iona University, while Fiin played for Somalia’s national team for four years, competing internationally.
Jamad Basketball Camps
Through Jamad Basketball Camps, Fiin has organized tournaments and clinics globally, inspiring a large social media following. Her work often involves Muslim girls who play while wearing hijabs.
Fiin said she grew up without seeing many women who looked like her playing basketball. Despite this, she joined her college team and gained confidence. “They didn’t judge me because I had a scarf on my head,” Fiin said. “They welcomed me with open arms.”
State Rep.Samakab Hussein,DFL-St. Paul, encouraged Fiin to visit the North End Community Center and work with young girls. She agreed, bringing Man with her.
On June 4,Fiin and Man spent two hours with school-age girls at the rec center. They plan to return from 6 to 8 p.m. each Thursday, focusing on drills while maintaining a casual surroundings.
“I called her and said, ‘come to the North End.’ We really need it,” Hussein said, emphasizing the need for safe spaces for young Muslim girls. “A lot of people have responded to us and said this is really needed… Many young girls love to see someone who looks like them play basketball.”
“A lot of parents bring their kids; they’re vrey open to the idea,” Fiin said. “People are becoming more accepting of their girls if they want to play any sports.”
Man, inspired by Fiin, has also hosted basketball clinics in Hong Kong and plans to support Fiin in St. Paul. Also present at the inaugural session were Hussein, St. Paul City Council Member HwaJeong Kim, and members of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.
St. Paul Parks and Rec Director Andy Rodriguez noted the demand for girls-only gym sessions and hopes to expand thes opportunities. He acknowledged that competing with boys for court time can be intimidating for girls.
“We’ll start here,” Rodriguez said, adding that the gender restrictions are flexible.