As a certified personal trainer and founder of Safe Haven Fitness, Jennifer Mesika helps stroke victims and people with developmental disabilities improve their mobility through physical therapy. Her career was inspired by a love of basketball that drove her dedication to help create a women’s league that is based at Winter Park Community Center.
She discovered basketball at a young age and played for her high school team, but never lost the desire to be on the court with her peers. “It’s much harder for a woman to play with men because you don’t get the basketball,” Mesika told the32789. “It almost feels like you’re a prop.”
The journey toward the league began in 2021 with local pick-up games organized by the Orlando Women’s Basketball Club via the Meetup social events app. An Instagram profile meant to raise awareness quickly gained traction and currently boasts more than 750 followers. Mesika applied in the spring to elevate the club to league status at Winter Park Community Center. After rejecting an initial option to create a co-ed league, she was able to work with the Parks & Recreation Department to make local history in June. “They are the first all-women’s league of any sport in Winter Park,” said Clarissa Howard, director of the city’s communications department.
Mesika says all-women’s teams allow players to be themselves and develop at their own pace, but developing a league comes with more challenges than a playoff run.
Mesika’s role as a player expanded to that of a commissioner; she recruited players, oversaw the creation of jerseys, and even organized a combine to place talent with teams. “We had plenty of players, but we needed to figure out skill levels and how they’d all match up,” she said. “It’s a lot of work but it’s all worth it come game time.”
The seven-team league meets every Tuesday at the Community Center with one double-header match to allow every team to play. League playoffs and a single-elimination championship match are scheduled for September, and non-league players can get in on the fun with open gym pick-up games every Friday that currently attract between 15-20 players each week. The seeds of expansion are already beginning to take root as pick-up games in Celebration are creating a foundation for more teams. “The goal is to branch out,” said Mesika, who is working with a network of more than 300 players to potentially form leagues in more Central Florida counties. “Winter Park is our flagship, but we also want to grow at some point.”
While the league began as a healthy outlet and a means of reconnecting with the sport of basketball, Mesika understands that it has become much more. “We’ve built a community – mothers are able to come out and do what they love and bring their families along for a fun night out.”
For more information, check out the Orlando Women’s Basketball Club Instagram page or log onto the Adult Sports page on the Community Center portion of the City of Winter Park website.