New WNBA program lets girls dress up as Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu in parks nationwide.

WNBA’s “Line ‘Em Up” Initiative

Outdoor basketball courts throughout the U.S. will soon feature WNBA three-point lines, thanks to a new initiative called “Line ‘Em Up.” This program is designed to bring women’s professional basketball closer to communities by marking official WNBA three-point lines on local park courts. In addition, the WNBA plans to donate to these participating courts.

Phil Cook, the WNBA’s chief marketing officer, shared with SB Nation that this initiative reflects the league’s commitment to inspiring young athletes.

“One key element driving the WNBA—though it’s been part of our identity for nearly 30 years—is the ambition to grow the game and encourage younger players to pick up basketball,” Cook stated. “This initiative represents another effort to enhance access and inspire play.”

Concept Originated at WNBA All-Star Weekend

This idea was born after extensive discussions at last year’s WNBA All-Star Weekend, where organizers sought to create a legacy program that would be easy to implement.

“We decided we should engage WNBA representatives in community parks where players often spend their time—on outdoor courts,” Cook said. “This led to the idea of using our unique orange color for the three-point line, letting young girls know they are seen and can mimic the shots of their heroes.”

The official launch event for this initiative will take place at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2 on June 12th at 5 p.m., with WNBA executives and special guests from the New York Liberty in attendance.

“We’ll consider this as a starting point to launch various initiatives and create stories while branching out across the country,” Cook explained. “We aim to embrace the 13 team markets. Each player comes from a specific market, and we hope this ignites community enthusiasm that spreads to other areas.”

The league has also released a short film highlighting this initiative, featuring WNBA legends like Tina Charles and Sue Bird.

Looking ahead, Cook mentioned that the WNBA All-Star Weekend next month in Indianapolis will see participation in the initiative at several local parks. While specific goals aren’t set, they hope to mark 20 to 30 courts in the coming months.

“Ideally, this orange line could be seen in thousands of driveways nationwide,” Cook mused. “Every young girl could take shots in her own backyard, marking the line and imagining she’s playing in the WNBA.”