Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
The streets of Newell and Fonda are quiet. Rural decline has taken its toll on these towns in northwest Iowa, with main street storefronts closing and vacant homes scattered throughout.
However, these community centers, located nine miles apart, are not difficult to find. The atmosphere in the Newell-Fonda High School gymnasium remained electric as Newell’s 850 residents, Fonda’s 600 residents and many from the surrounding farms dressed in blue to cheer on their beloved girls basketball team for which Iowa State is famous.
The Broncos are an exception, with 21 of the school’s 71 girls in grades 9-12 playing on varsity or junior varsity. While the popularity of the college and professional games has never been higher, participation in women’s basketball has declined across the country. iowa’s own Caitlin Clark She’s been doing a lot of good in this area recently, but participation has been declining in her home state and in many other states.
“When I first started coaching women’s basketball, every team you played had a good point guard, a good shooter and a solid post player, and then they could build from there,” Newell-Fonda coach Dick Jungers said. “Right now, some of the teams we play are struggling to even have one or two good players throughout the program. It’s a little concerning, but the kids are spending their time elsewhere.”
Iowa’s decline is steeper than most states, which is almost unimaginable given its long history with women’s and girls’ games. Iowa was the first to host a state tournament for girls, back in 1920 with a six-on-six tournament, and Clark was one of the most famous players in the girls game.
Some high schools in Iowa have folded their programs due to lack of interest, many only have enough players for one varsity team, and it’s not uncommon for junior varsity games to last two quarters because JV players also have to prepare for the following varsity games.
basketball Jody Maske remains the queen of Newell and Fonda since she led four teams to the state tournament from 1995 to 2002. He handed the program over to Jungers, who won four championships and 16 state tournaments in 24 years and compiled a 527-83 record. The Mustangs have reached the state finals seven times in the past eight seasons. Everyone who cares about Iowa women’s basketball knows they are a strong team.
The Mustangs, who have started the season with a 14-1 record, are winning by an average of 34 points and outscoring their nearest opponent 56-2 at halftime, have been ranked No. 1 since Council Bluffs St. Albert beat them in the state finals last March.
“If you know Newell Fonda, you know we play basketball,” senior center Josie Walsh said.
Who’s next?
Girls’ basketball participation nationwide dropped from 451,600 in 2000 to 356,240 in 2025, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Ten years ago, volleyball surpassed basketball as the most popular women’s team sport, and since 2000, participation has increased from 380,994 to 492,799. Basketball decreased by 21%, while volleyball increased by 29%.
Using raw data – the number of schools reporting participation varies from year to year – Kansas, LouisianaNorth Dakota, Indiana and Iowa had the largest declines. Fewer than 10 showed growth.
At Iowa, women’s basketball participation has dropped 38% since 2000 from 9,401 to 5,856.
Other outlets for the college and professional game remain relatively strong, including elite clubs.
Greg Turner, director of basketball for the Amateur Athletic Union, said he has noticed a decrease in the sports sanctioned by the organization, but to a lesser extent. The AAU season is the opposite of the traditional winter basketball season and attracts girls who are serious about improving their game or playing in college. AAU media officials did not respond to a request for attendance figures, and Turner said he was not authorized to release those figures.
Clark’s impressive numbers and playing style over the past few years are credited with sparking a surge in interest in women’s basketball. While the sport is experiencing unprecedented levels of viewership and attendance, participation at the high school level has yet to increase.
Even Clark’s alma mater, 5A Dowling Catholic School in West Des Moines, has seen decline. Coach Kristin Meyer said when she got here 10 years ago, she would have about 40 girls go out and play basketball. This season that number is 28.
Meyer and Jungers are members of a task force formed last year by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Association to explore possible solutions.
Coaches said the club volleyball program and girls wrestling have attracted basketball players. Club volleyball season conflicts with basketball, and fewer girls want to play multiple sports. Women’s wrestling becomes a legal sport in Iowa in 2022-23, with more than 2,000 people participating.
Coaches also say basketball skills are harder to develop than other sports, and the gap between serious players and casual players has never been wider. If girls encounter difficulties in secondary school, they often become discouraged or even drop out, they say. The physical aspects of the game – running and crashing – also annoy some players.
Youth programs are key
Dowling’s Meyer suggested a new approach among elementary teams that serve high schools. Playing three-on-three games until fifth grade will give everyone more opportunities to shoot, develop skills and stay interested, she said. Meyer also said there is a need for more women in their 20s and 30s with basketball backgrounds to coach elementary schools because they are often more suited to young girls than dad coaches.
“I mean, if you were that age, who would you rather hang out with?” Meyer said.
At Newell Fonda, kids usually start playing in third grade, but this year a second-grade team was formed. Of the 21 sophomore girls, 17 signed up. If Newell Fonda’s girls have athletic talent, playing basketball seems to be what they do.
“I think even if you’re not athletically gifted, it’s something you do,” Andrea Vanderhoof said with a laugh. “Everyone wants to be a part of it.”
At Newell, games are community events, and a pregame dinner is often served in the school cafeteria to raise funds for other activities. Buena Vista County put 1.5 million hogs and hogs on the market last year, so it was only natural that a pulled pork sandwich would be on the menu before the game against Storm Lake. Those who couldn’t get into the gym stood in the hallways, sticking their heads out of the doors to check the scores. Home games are also broadcast live and have been viewed up to 2,500 times.
“If you weren’t going to a basketball game in Newell or Fonda, what would you be doing?” Jungers said.
___
AP Youth Sports: https://apnews.com/hub/youth-sports