Female Professional Basketball Players Research Articles

Analysis of the Competitive Activity Structure of Skilled Female Basketball Players

The study purpose was to examine, analyze, and generalize the competitive activity structure based on the hierarchy of technical and tactical indicators of skilled female basketball players in won and lost games using principal component analysis. Materials and methods. The study participants were 96 professional female basketball players, members of national teams of Spain, France, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, Latvia, Italy, and Slovakia, which took the 1st-8th places in the final tournament of the European Basketball Championship 2017. The study analyzed 16 main technical and tactical indicators of skilled female basketball players in 52 official games to examine and interpret the obtained results using principal component analysis. The total number of observations is 52. Results. The experimental indicators obtained during the study made it possible to examine and analyze the grouping of elements of the competitive activity structure of skilled female basketball players, to interpret the obtained results in order to define informative criteria for optimizing training and improving the competitive activity effectiveness. The study revealed considerable differences in the competitive activity structure in won and lost games: in accordance with the most significant indicators of factor loadings, the percentage of a sample of elements that correlate with one another is: for won games – 67.40%, for lost games – 69.52%. Conclusions. Principal component analysis is quite effective and informative for studying the competitive activity structure of skilled female basketball players. It was demonstrated that the greatest difficulties in studying the competitive activity structure in basketball using principal component analysis are the selection of indicators that do not duplicate one another and are not calculated, expert interpretation of the obtained results, and algorithmization of special analysis of technical and tactical indicators.

Defensive Strategy and Player Sex Impact Heart-Rate Responses During Games-Based Drills in Professional Basketball.

Games-based drills (GBD) are the predominant form of training stimulus prescribed to male and female basketball players. Despite being readily manipulated during GBD, the impact of defensive strategy on the sex-specific demands of GBD remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify and compare the heart-rate (HR) responses experienced during 5v5 GBD using different defensive strategies (man-to-man defense vs zone defense [ZD] formations) according to player sex. HR was recorded in 11 professional male and 10 professional female basketball players while performing 5v5 GBD with different defensive strategies (man-to-man defense or ZD). HR-based training load was also calculated using the summated heart-rate zones model. During man-to-man defense, mean HR (ηp2=.02), relative time (in percentage) spent working at 90% to 100% maximal HR (ηp2=.03), and summated heart-rate zones (ηp2=.02) were greater (P < .05) in female players compared with males. During ZD, higher (P < .01) peak HR (ηp2=.07), mean HR (ηp2=.11), relative and absolute (in minutes) time spent working at 80% to 89% maximal HR (ηp2=.03 and .03, respectively) and 90% to 100% maximal HR (ηp2=.12 and .09, respectively), and summated heart-rate zones (ηp2=.19) were observed in female players compared with males. The defensive strategy employed during 5v5 full-court GBD influences HR responses and training load differently according to sex, where female players experience higher HR responses than males, especially when ZD are adopted. Basketball coaching staff can use these findings for the precise manipulation of team defenses during GBD to elicit desired cardiovascular stress on players.

Echocardiographic Characterization of Female Professional Basketball Players in the US

There is a paucity of data detailing cardiac remodeling in female athletes compared with male athletes. The lack of reference cardiac data for elite female basketball players or female athletes of similar size makes it difficult to differentiate athletic remodeling from potential underlying cardiac disorders in this population of athletes. To assess cardiac structure and function in elite female basketball players. This cross-sectional echocardiographic study included 140 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) athletes on active rosters for the 2017 season. The WNBA mandates annual preseason stress echocardiograms for each athlete. The WNBA has partnered with Columbia University to annually perform a review of these studies. Data analysis was performed from June 7, 2017, to October 5, 2017. Echocardiographic variables included left ventricular (LV) dimensions, wall thickness, mass, prevalence of LV hypertrophy, aortic dimensions, right ventricular (RV) dimension, and right and left atrial size. Linear regression was used to assess the associations between cardiac structure and function with body size quantified as body surface area (BSA) in the primary analysis. A total of 140 female athletes (mean [SD] age, 26.8 [3.9] years; 105 [75.0%] African American) participated in the study. Mean (SD) athlete height was 183.4 (9.0) cm, and mean (SD) BSA was 2.02 (0.18) m2. Compared with guideline-defined normal values, LV enlargement was present in 36 athletes (26.0%) and 57 athletes (42.2%) had RV enlargement. There was a linear correlation between LV and RV cavity sizes and BSA extending to the uppermost biometrics (LV cavity size: r, 0.48; RV cavity size: r, 0.32; P < .001 for both). Maximal left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) ranged from 0.6 to 1.4 cm, with 78 athletes (55.7%) having LVWT of 1.0 cm or greater and only 1 athlete (0.7%) having LVWT greater than 1.3 cm. Twenty-three athletes (16.4%) met the criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (>95 g/m2). Eccentric LVH was present in 16 athletes (69.6%), concentric LVH in 7 athletes (30.4%), and concentric remodeling in 27 athletes (19.3%). Mean aortic root diameter was 3.1 cm (95% CI, 3.0-3.2). Only 2 athletes (1.4%) had guideline-defined aortic enlargement compared with a range of 18% to 42% for left and right ventricular and atrial enlargement. In this study, increased cardiac dimensions were frequently observed in WNBA athletes. Both BSA and physiologic remodeling affected cardiac morphologic findings. This study may provide a framework to define the range of athletic cardiac remodeling exhibited by elite female basketball players.

Association of pre-season musculoskeletal screening and functional testing with sports injuries in elite female basketball players

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in Lithuania, and participation in women’s basketball is on the rise. Pre-participation examinations, including musculoskeletal screening and functional performance testing, is an essential part of a multidisciplinary approach to prevent future injuries. Because the lower extremities are the most commonly-injured body area in basketball players. Assessing fundamental movement qualities is of utmost importance. The aim of our study was to determine if functional tests can predict sports injuries in elite female basketball players. A total of 351 records for professional female basketball players were screened during 2013–2016 season. We analysed functional characteristics before the season and used functional performance tests for injury risk assessment: the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), the lower quarter Y Balance test (YBT-LQ) and the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS). Data from 169 players’ records were analysed: 77 of them made it to the end of season without injury, making up the non-injured group, while 92 of them suffered lower limb sport injuries during the sport season (injury group). Student’s t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used to determine differences between groups. The most commonly encountered sports injuries in our population were those of knee 40.2% and ankle 38%. The injury group had a lower total FMS score (p = 0.0001) and higher total LESS score (p = 0.028) than non-injury group. The dynamic balance of lower limbs was similar in both groups. Imperfect functional movement patterns and poor jump-landing biomechanics during pre-season screening were associated with lower extremity injuries in elite female basketball players. Impairments of dynamic stability in the lower extremities were not associated with injury rates in our population. A combination of functional tests can be used for injury risk evaluation in female basketball players.

Acute caffeine supplementation promotes small to moderate improvements in performance tests indicative of in-game success in professional female basketball players.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of acute caffeine supplementation on anaerobic performance in professional female basketball players. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, experimental design was used in a randomized counterbalanced manner. In separate sessions, 10 professional basketball players ingested caffeine (3 mg/kg body mass) or a placebo (dextrose: 3 mg/kg body mass) 60 min before completing countermovement jumps (CMJ) with and without arm swing, a squat jump (SJ), the Lane Agility Drill, 20-m sprints (with 5-m and 10-m split times recorded) with and without dribbling a ball, and a suicide run. Participants provided ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and ratings of perceived performance 30 min following testing. Data analyses included the use of effect size (ES) and significance. Caffeine supplementation produced small nonsignificant (p > 0.05) increases in CMJ without arm swing (ES = 0.30), CMJ with arm swing (ES = 0.29), SJ (ES = 0.33), and the lane agility drill (ES = -0.27). Caffeine supplementation produced small to moderate significant improvements in 10-m (ES = -0.63; p = 0.05) and 20-m (ES = -0.41; p = 0.04) sprint times without dribbling. Caffeine supplementation promoted a moderate significant reduction in RPE during the test battery (ES = -1.18; p = 0.04) and a small nonsignificant improvement in perceived performance (ES = 0.23; p = 0.53). Acute caffeine supplementation may produce small to moderate improvements in key performance attributes required for basketball while reducing RPE.

Effect of combined antioxidant treatment on oxidative stress, muscle damage and sport performance in female basketball players

Introduction/Objective. We determined the impact of antioxidant supplementation by GE132R on sports performance, oxidative stress markers, and muscle enzymes activities in professional female basketball players. Methods. Repetitive strength, explosive power, anaerobic endurance, and agility performance were measured before/after the 45-day supplementation period. The FORT (Free Oxygen Radicals Test) and FORD analysis (Free Oxygen Radical Defense) were assessed before/after basketball specific exercise bout, at the beginning/end of observational period. The grade of muscle damage was evaluated by aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Results. After supplementation period, significant difference was not recorded regarding the basic motor skills tests. Basketball specific exercise bout induced significant increase in FORT (p &lt; 0.05) only at the beginning of supplementation period. Both FORT and FORD significantly decreased over the observational period (p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.01, respectively). CK and LDH were remarkably lower at the end of observational period (p &lt; 0.05), compared to the baseline. Conclusion. Exogenous supplementation with protective nutraceuticals such as those found in GE132R, could reduce acute/chronic oxidative stress and muscle damage, but had no effect on sport performance in basketball players.

Comparison of Antropometric and Physical Fitness Characteristics of Korean Female Professional Basketball Players by Class and Playing Position

PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to compare anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of Korean female professional basketball players in different classes (starter and non-starter) and playing positions. METHODS Twenty-four female professional basketball players (12 starter vs. 12 non-starter) participated in this study voluntarily. For each player, anthropometric measurements were performed, as well as a sargent jump (SJ), isokinetic leg strength, side step, and graded exercise tests (GXT). RESULTS Starters’ fat mass (p<.05), %fat (p<.05) and HRmax (p<.001) were significantly lower than those of non-starters’, whereas Starters’ sargent jump was significantly higher than those of non-starters’ (p<.05). However, there was no significant differences in relative left and right leg flexor and extensor strength at 60˚/sec and 180˚/sec among playing positions. According to the correlation analysis, %fat and HRmax were negatively correlated and lean body mass was positively correlated with the SJ. The side step had a negative correlation with BMI, but a positive correlation with VO2max, while VO2max was negatively correlated with fat mass, %fat and HRmax. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the present study indicated that physical performance of female professional basketball players differed between starters and non-starters, whereas there were no significant differences among guards, forwards and centers. According to the present study, in order to improve the competitiveness of female professional basketball players, body composition management is required to reduce body fat mass, % fat, and BMI, as well as muscle strength strengthening and cardiopulmonary endurance training programs also demand. 색인어: 여자, 프로농구 ì„ ìˆ˜, ì‹ ì²´ê³„ì¸¡, ì²´ë ¥, í¬ì§€ì ˜ Keywords: Female, Professional Basketball, Anthropometric, Fitness, Position

Validity of a basketball-specific complex test in female professional players.

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of a new basketball-specific complex test (BBCT) based on the ascertained match performance.Fourteen female professional basketball players (ages: 23.4 ± 1.8 years) performed the BBCT and a treadmill test (TT) at the beginning of pre-season training. Lactate, heart rate (HR), time, shooting precision and number of errors were measured during the four test sequences of the BBCT (short distance sprinting with direction changes, with and without a ball; fast break; lay-up parcours; sprint endurance test). In addition, lactate threshold (LT) and HR were assessed at selected times throughout the TT and the BBCT and over 6 (TT) or 10 (BBCT) minutes after the tests. The match performance score (mps) was calculated on specific parameters (e. g. points) collected during all matches during the subsequent season (22 matches). The mps served as the "gold standard" within the validation process for the BBCT and the TT.TT parameters demonstrated an explained variance (EV) between 0 % (HR recovery) and 11 % (running speed at 6 mmol/l LT). The EV from the BBCT was higher and ranged from 0 % (HR recovery 6 minutes after end of exercise) to 28 % (sprint endurance test after 8 of 10 sprints). Ten out of 21 BBCT parameters (48 %) and 2 out of 5 TT parameters (40 %) demonstrated an EV higher than 10 %. Average EV for all parameters was 12 % (BBCT) and 6 % (TT), respectively. The BBCT had a higher validity than the TT for predicting match performance. These findings suggest that coaches and scientists should consider using the BBCT testing protocol to estimate the match performance abilities of elite female players.

Психофизиологические и биохимические показатели у представительниц игрового и циклического видов спорта

Психофизиологические и биохимические показатели у представительниц игрового и циклического видов спорта

The Personal Relationship Stress and coping Strategies of Female Professional Basketball Players

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors of stress and of coping strategies caused by personal relationships of female professional basketball players, and to give information to the sport instructor and players. The subjects of study were 72 people among 6 teams assigned WKBL and they were provided un open questionnaire, and 519 raw date were collected, which were divided into frequency analysis and contents analysis by inductive contents analysis. The results were as follows. Factors of stress by personal relationships of female professional basketball players were ranked by relationships with instructors(153/29.4%), relationships with seniors(122/23.5%), relationships with friends(63/12.1%). As a coping strategies, in dormitory, non active methods were higher than active methods, and in stopping out and leave-time, active methods, were higher than non active methods. The factors of stress by age group were excessive training ordered by instructor(age-19-25), non specific instructive methods of instructor(age 26-30), and opinion conflicts caused by the difference of motor motivation(age over 31). In conclusion, female professional basketball players had been experiencing stress by personal relationships in order of instructors, seniors, friends, and motor motivation, and as a way of overcoming those stress factors, they had been preferring non active methods in dormitory rather than active methods during their stopping out and leave-time

Changes in muscle damage markers in female basketball players.

The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in muscle soreness, blood muscle damage markers, muscle strength and agility following an official basketball match. Eleven elite female professional basketball players (27.4 ± 4.8 years, 179.5 ± 5.5 cm, 72.0 ± 7.8 kg) of a team participated in this study. The official match was the seventh match of the season in the first phase of the Brazilian National Female Basketball Championship. Muscle soreness, plasma creatine kinase activity (CK), and myoglobin concentration (Mb) were determined before and after the match (post-match, 24 and 48 hours after the match). The 1RM strength for bench press and leg press, and the agility T test were assessed before and at 24 and 48 hours after the match. Significant increases in muscle soreness, CK and Mb were observed at 24 and 48 hours post-match (p<0.05). No significant changes in the 1RM strength and T test were detected during recovery (24 and 48 hours after the match). These results suggest that a basketball match induced limited muscle damage with minimal effect on performance during recovery. The small increase in muscle damage markers following a basketball match did not affect strength and agility performance.

Enhanced parasympathetic activity of sportive women is paradoxically associated to enhanced resting energy expenditure

The resting energy expenditure and the adaptation of the autonomic nervous system induced by sport activities in sedentary women and in female professional basketball players have been studied. Resting energy expenditure, body composition and the level of activity of the autonomic nervous system were measured before and after a period of six months. The physical activity induced an increase in resting energy expenditure and free fat mass without variations in body weight. Basketball players showed a significant increase in the parasympathetic activity, measured by the power spectral analysis of the heart rate variability. These findings demonstrate that resting energy expenditure is higher in the athletes than in sedentary women, despite the augmented parasympathetic activity that is usually related to lower energy expenditure.

La autopercepción de las jugadoras de baloncesto expertas respecto a sus procesos de formación. (The professional female basketball players’s self-perception, regarding their training process)

Professional female Basketball players, apart from their ta- lent, have had to carry on an effective training process which has allowed them to get excellent results. This study is focused on the self-perception Spanish professional female Basketball players have, regarding the most decisive elements of their trai- ning process. The knowledge of these factors has been carried out interviewing these players; afterwards, these interviews ha- ve been recorded, transcribed, classified and analyzed based on some dimensions and codes that were established before. The results emphasize the importance of the family and the quality trainers have, as well as the hope of winning and learning and the ability to work. As far as the Basketball court is concerned, the ability to make a decision, the speed and the shot have be- en underlined as very important elements in order to be the best players.

Injury Risk in Professional Basketball Players

Background Gender-based differences in injury rates have been reported in scholastic and collegiate basketball. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare injury rates in women's and men's professional basketball. Hypothesis Female professional basketball players are injured at a higher rate than are men. Study Design Cohort study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 2. Methods Women's National Basketball Association and National Basketball Association injury data were retrospectively reviewed for 6 full seasons. The frequency of all injuries and the rate of game-related injuries were calculated. Results Complete player profiles were obtained on 702 National Basketball Association athletes and 443 Women's National Basketball Association athletes who competed in their respective leagues during the data collection period. Total game exposures totaled 70 420 (National Basketball Association) and 22 980 (Women's National Basketball Association). Women's National Basketball Association athletes had a higher overall game-related injury rate (24.9 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 22.9-26.9; P < .05) when compared with National Basketball Association athletes (19.3 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 18.3-20.4) and sustained a higher rate of lower extremity injuries (14.6 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 13.1-16.2; P < .05) than seen in the National Basketball Association (11.6 per 1000 athlete exposures; 95% confidence interval, 10.8-12.4). The lower extremity was the most commonly injured body area (65%), and lateral ankle sprain (13.7%) was the most common diagnosis in both leagues. The incidence of game-related knee injury was higher in Women's National Basketball Association players. The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury in the National Basketball Association (n = 22, 0.8%) and Women's National Basketball Association (n = 14, 0.9%) accounted for 0.8% of the 4446 injuries reported. Conclusion The lower extremity is the most frequently injured body area in both leagues, and Women's National Basketball Association athletes are more susceptible than are National Basketball Association athletes. There were, however, few statistical differences in the actual injuries occurring between the 2 leagues.

Hoop Dreams

This article focuses on development of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), exploring the gendered and racialized meanings that surround both male and female professional basketball players. It examines the social, cultural, and political consequences of the challenge the WNBA poses in terms of shifting these meanings. Professional male basketball players, especially Black men, have been marketed as fetish objects, so much so that personality, glamour, and “bad boy” behavior have become the primary hallmarks of the sport. In light of these narratives, this article argues that increasingly, WNBA athletes are rhetorically marked as a “return to the game.” Although problems remain, including access to funding, media exposure, and general credibility as a sport, this article speculates on what the WNBA can tell us about a more general shift in popular culture regarding representations of masculinity and femininity.

Outcomes of Nutrition Education for Professional Female Basketball Players

Proper nutrition and weight control practices can strongly influence basketball performance. Yet, little is known about the outcomes of nutrition education programs that target the food and weight concerns of female professional basketball players. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in eating behaviors consequent to a nutrition education program (1-hour nutrition education session plus 10 to 15 minutes of private, individual nutrition counseling). Each player (mean profile: 28 years old, 183 cm (6′) height, 72 kg (158 lbs) weight, 17% body fat) was given a multiple-choice questionnaire one month after the nutrition workshop. Due to reassignment of team members, we could assess only 6 or the 11 original players. These 6 players reported the following positive outcomes: Breakfast: 4 of 6 players reported thinking more about the importance of breakfast and said they were trying to eat a larger breakfast; 2 of 6 reported feeling better and performing better because of improved breakfast intake; 1 reported always having eaten a good breakfast. Snacks: 4 of 6 players reported eating healthier snacks; 1 reported that adding a snack helped her have more energy. Fruits and Vegetables: 2 of 6 players reported improvement in their intake of fruits and vegetables; 2 of 6 reported having always eaten plenty fruits and vegetables. Fluids: 4 of 6 players reported drinking more fluids throughout the day and said they were making the effort to bring water bottles to practice and drink more during practices and games; 2 of 6 reported their fluid intake has always been good. Calories and Fuel: 3 of 6 players reported feeling better because they were distributing their calories more evenly throughout the day; 2 of 6 reported having more energy because of better fueling patterns. Weight: 4 of 6 players reported they now focus more on proper fueling than on dieting to lose weight. Two reported weight was not an issue. Overall, each player reported 5 to 6 dietary improvements that could potentially contribute to enhanced health and performance. Further research is needed to determine the accuracy of this self-reported data, as well of the long-term maintenance of the dietary improvements.