Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir facts for kids

Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir is an amazing American athlete. She used to play college basketball. What makes her special is that she played while wearing a hijab. A hijab is a headscarf worn by many Muslim women.

Bilqis scored an incredible 3,070 points in high school. This set a new record for all of Massachusetts. She then played college basketball for four years at the University of Memphis. Later, she finished her college career at Indiana State University. She even helped coach there for a while!

Early Life and High School Basketball

Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Her birthday is November 11, 1990. Her parents are Tariq and Alooah Abdul-Qaadir. Her brother, Yusuf Abdul-Ali, also played college basketball.

From a very young age, Bilqis loved basketball. She first picked up a ball at age four at a local YMCA. Growing up, she followed her Muslim faith. This meant she started wearing a headscarf (hijab). She also covered her skin on the court, except for her hands. This showed her modesty.

Bilqis started playing varsity basketball in eighth grade. She played for New Leadership Charter School. By her freshman year, she had already scored 1,000 career points. Only two other players in Massachusetts history had done this so quickly.

She ended her high school career with 3,070 points. This broke the old record of 2,740 points. Bilqis was named the 2009 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year. She averaged an amazing 42 points per game in her senior year. In her last high school game, she scored 51 points! Bilqis was also an honor student when she graduated.

College Basketball Journey

Bilqis earned a full scholarship to the University of Memphis. She played there for four years, from 2009 to 2013. She graduated with high honors in exercise science. Her teammates at Memphis called her "Qisi."

In her first year, Bilqis got hurt. She tore a ligament in her knee. So, she took a "redshirt" year. This meant she didn't play games but could still practice. It saved her a year of playing eligibility.

In the 2010–2011 season, Bilqis made history. She became the first player to wear a hijab in an NCAA game. The United States Basketball Writers Association gave her a "Most Courageous" award. This was for being the first Muslim woman to play covered in NCAA history. She was even invited to the White House! President Barack Obama recognized her achievement.

In her 2011–2012 season, Bilqis improved her scoring. She also became a great passer. She was one of only three Tiger point guards to get over 100 assists in a season. She also set a team record by making 26 free throws in a row.

During the 2012–2013 season, Bilqis broke her wrist. This meant she only played in 25 games. Still, she averaged 10.6 points per game.

After Memphis, Bilqis played her final college season at Indiana State University. She was named the Conference Outstanding Newcomer for the 2013–2014 season. She helped her team win the Missouri Valley Conference title. Bilqis was also named First Team All-MVC. After playing, she worked as a graduate assistant coach for the team.

After College: Making a Difference

Bilqis hoped to play professional basketball in Europe. But she faced a challenge. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) had a rule. It banned head coverings larger than five inches. Bilqis did not want to stop wearing her hijab.

So, she decided to fight the rule. She put her dream of playing professionally aside. Instead, she worked to help other Muslim women in sports. In 2017, FIBA finally changed the rule in her favor!

Bilqis started an online campaign called "Muslim Girls Hoop Too." This campaign helps people learn about Muslim women in sports. It especially focuses on female basketball players. She wants to travel the world to inspire young women. She encourages them to be true to themselves. She uses sports and basketball to spread her message.

Because of her campaign, Bilqis was invited to the White House again. This was in March 2015 for a Muslim Leaders Meeting. She was one of 15 people who met with President Obama. This led to another invitation to the White House Easter Egg Roll. There, she helped raise awareness for physical activity. This was part of the First Lady's "Let’s Move" campaign.

Today, Bilqis lives in London, Ontario, Canada. She lives with her husband, Abdulwaahid Massey, and their son. They own a basketball training gym together.

Awards and Recognition

• 2009 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year
• Western Massachusetts Player of the Year
• Boston Globe All-Dream Team
• Massachusetts High School Scoring Record
• ESPN High School National Honor Roll
• Graduated first in her high school class

White House Visits

Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir was invited to the White House several times.

In 2009, President Barack Obama invited her for Eid al-Fitr. This is an important Muslim holiday. The President said Bilqis was an inspiration to everyone. He praised her for being an honor student and an athlete. He even joked about wanting to play her in a game of one-on-one!

On February 4, 2015, Bilqis was one of 14 American Muslims invited to a special meeting. She met with President Obama behind closed doors at the White House.

See also

• Muslim women in sport