In 2023, junior Ali Chackel founded the Samford Women’s Club Basketball Team and currently serves as its club president alongside co-president Ava Maddux.
Since its formation, the team has faced several big competitors, including Auburn, Florida State and Georgia Tech. They have also seen success in generating student interest, holding their first official tryouts in fall 2025.
“I had a lot of interest right off the bat from girls who had played in high school and were looking for a way to continue playing,” Chackel stated.
For Chackel and her teammates, club basketball not only allows them to continue to compete in a sport they love, but also to continue creating relationships.
“Providing an atmosphere where we can have that teammate bond, grow relationships and build each other up in Christ, that’s always our number one goal… to build one another up throughencouragement and spur one another in love,” Chackel stated. “The Lord has continued to provide me with opportunities through this club, and he has also shown me how much I love coaching.”
Junior Danni Reeves stated that being on the team has been a rewarding experience.
“It’s a way for me to decompress after school and just have fun,” Reeves said. “It brought back a part of my life from high school that I thought was gone forever, and I’ll always be grateful for the memories and these people who brought back that spark.”
Sophomore Stacie Angelakos, club vice president, also stated the importance of community among the team. After the team worked together to win a close game against Georgia Tech, Angelakos said she knew that they had a solid foundation for the club and a great group of girls to build it with.
“It was a great showing of our team camaraderie and really brought all of us girls closer together,” said Angelakos.
Chackel and Angelakos both stated that they hope to see the team become a permanent fixture at Samford and increase their competitive reach by attending national tournaments.
“What makes club basketball special to me is that it gives me a space to continue playing a sport I’m so passionate about. Basketball is where I’ve learned a lot about myself. It’s taught me how to respond to adversity, how to lead and trust others, and how to keep working even when the results aren’t immediate,” said Chackel.
On February 28, the team will face the University of Mississippi and Florida State University in a doubleheader at home.
Staff Reporter
