Desiree Ale ’10
^{Founder / Her Game}

Desiree Ale ’10 comes from a large family that believes in the values and lessons one learns from playing sports. She was a standout basketball player at Bishop alongside her sisters, Rheina ‘08 and Kristen ‘11, and many other family members have athletic roots. In 2015, she began working with boys in grassroots basketball and loved it; yet, she always wished there were more opportunities for girls. Instead of waiting for opportunities to materialize, she began creating them herself. She wanted to make a genuine difference in the lives of young women using her passion for both basketball and helping others. In 2019, she founded Her Game, an exposure and empowerment outlet committed to improving the perception and advancement of all girls and women in all sports and in all levels of involvement. By emphasizing education and empowerment, Ale is creating opportunities for young women to excel in all areas of life.

What is the most important quality a leader must have; describe your leadership style?

“If you are going to be a leader, you are not going to please everybody. You have to hold people accountable. I lean towards the strategic leadership style. I fill the gap between the need for new possibilities and the need for practicality by providing a prescriptive set of habits. I have talked about how girls deserve the same opportunities as the boys and that is what we executed at our first event [held last year at Bishop Montgomery]. We invited most of the top eighth graders in southern California to come showcase their talents. We had high-profile media outlets cover the Her Game Classic at Bishop Montgomery. It was important to me to have the girls surrounded by people who want to see the game grow and do it with love.”

How do you try to inspire the young women you work with?

“I remember being protective of my siblings and close friends in high school. I stood up for them when they could not stand up for themselves; now I stand up for young female athletes who do not have the representation and visibility that they deserve. I think it was not until after Bishop, having a conversation as an adult with one of my role models, [Bishop alumna and current girls’ basketball coach] Noelle Quinn ‘03, when I learned more about my leadership skills. We spoke about ways to keep our game moving forward for young women. I take in all the advice I received from my mentors and role models. A quote from Kobe [Bryant] that I live by is, ‘the most important thing you can do is pay everything forward to the next generation to come.’ I encourage the girls to continue to speak their truth and use their voice for the good of others. Whether having them tell their own stories to a group of younger girls or writing out their life goals, I strive to help them become the best versions of themselves.”

Follow Her Game on Twitter, Tik Tok, Youtube, Facebook & Instagram @hergamesports.