NBA and WNBA back Lean In Girls program that tells facilitators not to call participants 'girls'

The and WNBA have spent more than a decade working with Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In organization, a relationship that has expanded to include promoting a leadership program for girls as young as 11.

There's just one problem: A handbook for adults running the program tells them not to address the group as "girls."

Yes, Lean In Girls, which the NBA and WNBA say they're "proud to support," includes guidance for working with participants who may be exploring their gender identity. Its facilitator handbook encourages children to share their pronouns and instructs adults to use gender-neutral language.

WNBPA ISSUES STATEMENT EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AMID TRANS ATHLETE DEBATE IN WOMEN'S SPORTS

The handbook also discusses "social power" and "active allyship," teaching facilitators how to help young participants recognize and challenge societal biases.

So, how much of the curriculum did the NBA and WNBA review before deciding to support the program?

The NBA's 2022-23 Social Impact Report stated that the WNBA had worked with Lean In for eight years, airing public service announcements during the playoffs to promote the value of girls and women in sports.

Those early campaigns focused on gender equality and encouraging men to support women. By 2024, the partnership included Lean In Girls, a program designed specifically for children.

That year, the leagues teamed up with WNBA star Aliyah Boston for a promotional campaign encouraging girls to reject stereotypes and embrace their "leadership superpowers."

On April 20, 2026, the NBA published a video describing Lean In Girls as a "free, school-ready" program backed by both leagues. Promotional ads for Lean In also air during WNBA broadcasts.

The WNBA also teamed up with Flau'jae Johnson, with Lean In's website declaring that Johnson and the league were proud to support the initiative.

Lean In says the free program is designed for girls ages 11-15 and can be used in schools and community organizations.

OutKick obtained a 2023 Lean In Girls Facilitator Handbook through Courage Is A Habit, a parental-rights organization that previously investigated the program.

The handbook describes Lean In Girls as a program developed for girls and young teenagers who "identify with the girlhood experience." The program includes leadership activities involving goal-setting, confidence and dealing with failure. One section, titled "Gender inclusion," explains that some participants may be exploring their gender identity or feel uncomfortable with the label "girl."

"When you greet your group or refer to them as a whole, avoid calling them 'girls' or 'guys,'" the handbook states.

Instead, facilitators are encouraged to use terms such as "everyone," "folks," "leaders" and "team." The handbook also encourages participants to share their pronouns, though it cautions against making the practice mandatory, and suggests substituting they/them pronouns into fictional scenarios.

Another section instructs facilitators to consider how people's identities affect their "social power." According to Lean In Girls, adults, wealthy people and a