Title IX legislation in the 1970s mandated gender equity in athletics. Despite strides made by women, resource and facility disparities persist.

Omaha nonprofit EPIC for Girls is on a mission to level the playing field by providing school-age teams with gear, travel sponsorship, extra coaching and college exposure they may not have access to otherwise. 

Some metro athletes benefiting from EPIC’s work recently spoke to The Reader. Parents and coaches weighed in, too. There’s wide agreement that if girls are to reach their potential, it requires support from families, schools and community organizations to help fill funding and opportunity gaps that can otherwise act as barriers to participation and development. 

“EPIC for Girls researches, advocates for and funds innovative solutions that address inequities in sports for girls of color,” said director of programs and strategic partnerships Racquel Henderson. “We do not run direct programming. Instead, we work alongside schools, clubs, community organizations and other partners to strengthen the entire youth sports ecosystem.”

Through its Community of Practice, she said EPIC equips coaches, mentors and program leaders with tools, resources and training to create safe, inclusive, empowering environments.

“We focus on increasing access, representation and opportunity, especially in communities where girls of color are often left out of the game,” Henderson said. “Whether investing in coach development, helping organizations adopt best practices or celebrating the achievements of girls, EPIC’s role is to make sure every girl has the chance to participate, grow and thrive on and off the field.”

Those impacted by EPIC say it empowers student-athletes by helping them develop athletic and life skills that can lead to scholarships for college and set them up for careers.

Omaha Benson juniors Mckenzie (Kenzie) Lewis and Jaeli Franccini have played basketball together since middle school. They competed on the EPIC sponsored Unity Stars summer AAU team. Kenzie’s father Chillous Lewis has “worked with her her whole life” developing her game. She’s also come under the influence of school and AAU coaches. She wears number 10 in honor of the late Darryl Roddy, who impacted her as a coach with Unity Stars and Benson.

“He meant a lot,” Kenzie noted. “I looked up to him as like a grandpa or great uncle. I really do miss him. I wish he was still here to see the progress that I made because of him.”  

Her father’s grateful for what Kenzie got from Roddy and the opportunities EPIC afforded through Unity.

“That’s the team she was raised in,” Chillous Lewis said. “We really appreciate all they did for her. They taught her a lot.”

The growth she made showed when thrust into a starting role early on at Benson.

“We lost five seniors and a few other players and I was the next person up,” she said. “So taking that role on as a young individual was very hard, but it was also a cool learning experience.”

Another sign of maturation came when Benson won in the closing seconds versus Papio South. Instead of immediately celebrating with her team she consoled a Patio player who collapsed in despair. The sportsmanship moment that made her parents “very proud” went viral. Her growth extends off-the-court as a student ambassador. 

With colleges eying her hoops ability, she hopes for a breakout junior season. She and her teammates don’t need to look far to see former Benson athletes who’ve achieved at the next level. The late Simone Goods starred at Western Kentucky and Illinois State. Alum Quinesha Lockett excelled at Toledo and now plays professionally overseas. When Lockett’s in town she works with Benson’s girls. 

Benson girls basketball head coach Bob Massey appreciates former players like Lockett, Deleyah Harris and Delani Harris coming back to give back. 

“I’m blessed to have so many young women who played for me come back in the summer to scrimmage my high school teams, which really helps them develop,” he said. “And they mentor them. I can tell them everything I want to, but if they hear it from one of the girls who are good at basketball and doing good in life they listen more than they do to me. It’s a huge thing in the development of the kids who play for me.” 

Players Kenzie and Jaeli appreciate scrimmaging older, more experienced players.

“They play on a different level,” Jaeli said. “They’ve got high basketball IQs. They see things very differently. Definitely more physical, very strong. They teach us things. They give us advice on how to be better. It helps a lot.”

Playing in summer tournaments has helped get her and Kenzie on college scouting radars. 

Chillous Lewis said traveling out of state has made his daughter have “to grow up.” The exposure has already netted her offers from HCBUs (Historically Black College and Universities).

“I told her that all the time and effort she’s put in has been worth it,” he said.

Kenzie’s personal growth has extended to conducting EPIC basketball camps for students at Nelson Mandela Elementary School and working as a youth basketball referee thanks to an EPIC officiating school she got certified in.

“Older players did for me so I wanted to return the favor to younger players,” Kenzie said about wirning with younger players. “I want to be looked at as a leader and some of them do look up to me.” 

She’s added varsity track and softball to her routine become a three-sport athlete. Benson head girls track coach Liara Baylon likes what Kenzie brings.

“She’s a hard worker for sure,” Baylon said. “She’s definitely getting results on both ends.” 

Jaeli has been turning heads on the court a long time, but the last two years has emerged a sprint phenom. Her rapid progress on the track came working with Baylon.

“The relationship got closer and closer after we saw my potential,” Jaeli said. “Maybe two weeks into practice she’s telling me, ‘You’re going to go to state.’ And I was like, ‘What – as a freshman?’ And she never backed off that statement. Ever since then that was the goal, and that’s what I did my freshman year. And then it was to do better my sophomore year – and that’s what I did.”

She went from placing seventh at state as a freshman in the 400 and 100 to last spring winning gold medals in the 100 and 200, breaking school records en route.

“She’s a natural,” Baylon said. “The track gods have got something going for her. But it was a lot of mental, physical hard work she put into the season. I’m so proud she finished the way she did – on top.” 

Jaeli is glad she put in the work.

“It made me mature more,” she said. “If I want to do something I know I can do it with the right people around me to support me.”

She and her coach have big goals in mind.

“We definitely have state records on our mind – we’re chasing them,” Baylon said. “Our slogan is go get everything you can get.”

Jaeli’s also a top student. Baylon makes sure all her girls get their academics in order before competing.

“I always tell them being a student-athlete is a blueprint for real life and what you’re going to experience in the real world when it’s all over,” Baylon said.

Despite inequities, women’s athletics is more open with possibilities than ever before and student-athletes like Franccini are well aware of it. “That’s very exciting,” Jaeli said. “Even a few years ago it wasn’t like that. I’m so glad people are watching and women athletes are getting what they deserve now.” 

Omaha North dean of students and head girls basketball coach Michaela Dailey sees past and present players take advantage of new pathways. She said EPIC facilitates role modeling-mentoring opportunities. For example, it arranged for local girls to engage women’s college hoops living legend Dawn Staley, a Hall of Fame former player and current coach at South Carolina, during an Omaha visit.

“It was crazy to see her,” Jaeli said. “We were able to ask her questions. My question was what do you look for in a player. She went down the list of attitude, athleticism, how you are with teammates, coaches, refs.”

“EPIC has made a huge impact on our basketball program,” Dailey added. “Their support has not only increased the resources available to us but also elevated the overall quality of experiences our girls are able to access. Through EPIC we’ve been able to provide essential items like equipment, team apparel, travel expenses, meals during the season and leadership development opportunities.” 

Some North girls come from households on the margins and Dailey said EPIC “has helped us remove many of the financial and systemic barriers that often limit opportunities for girls in under-resourced communities.”

“EPIC’s investment… has opened doors to experiences many of our players wouldn’t otherwise have access to: skill development sessions, camps led by college and professional coaches, exposure tournaments, mental health and wellness initiatives and leadership training,” Dailey added.

EPIC makes it possible for youths to attend Omaha Supernovas volleyball and Creighton women’s basketball games. Many local girls got the chance to meet their idol, Paige Bueckers, when her UConn Huskies faced the Jays at DJ Sokol Arena. Bueckers now stars in the WNBA.

North grad Dariauna Lewis enjoyed a stellar Alabama A&M career before playing her final year at Syracuse. She now plays professionally overseas. She’s among a cadre of urban Omaha athletes who return to give clinics.

North senior Justine Tcheuhchoua has bonded with her.

“I basically spent the whole summer alongside of her coaching girls,” said Justine, who teamed with older sister Noelle at Omaha Central before transferring to North to play under Dailey (her coach as a middle schooler). Noelle is now on scholarship at Jackson State.

“We complemented each other,” Justine said of their sister tandem. “But I’m also experimenting with how I play on my own. I feel like when I started playing with more confidence and playing like I knew I could play more schools (colleges) started to take notice. That was really big motivation for me to keep playing hard, keep going hard, keep getting better.

“It’s hard to manage time between school life, home life, sports life – it can be really overwhelming. But it’s really all about knowing your priorities. I’m happy with where I’m at now but I’m always striving to continue to get better.”

She’s optimistic North girls hoops are poised for big things.

“We have the talent but we have to get the fundamentals part better,” Justine said. “The goal is not just to make it to state, the goal is to win it. I do feel we have that opportunity in right front of us. All we have to do is work hard to get there.” 

Justine already has an offer to join Noelle at Jackson State but is keeping her options open.

The sisters are likely not the last in the family to make their mark. A younger sister plays varsity basketball with Justine. Two sisters in elementary school are showing promise.

“You’re going to be hearing the Tcheuhchoua name a lot,” Justine said.

Her Cameroon, Africa immigrant parents are thrilled that their daughters have found something they love doing that can propel their lives forward.

Justine’s among a trio of seniors, along with Sierra Thomas and A’yanna Hill, who played for the same EPIC sponsored AAU team Express United coached by Dailey and Antonio Hill (A’yanna’s father).

“They were so dominant, they were so good together,” A’yanna said of the ensemble. “Me and Dailey have had a big piece of their basketball adolescence. It’s been beautiful to watch.”

Then the girls went their separate ways for high school. But Justine, Sierra and others have since transferred to North.

“It’s like a surreal moment that these girls have all come back together,” A’yanna said. “It’s a feel-good story. They’re all going to play together their senior year and hopefully come away with one ending goal in winning the state championship.”

Dailey feels she has her most talented North team.

In addition to Dailey and Hill, Sierra was coached by her father Barry Thomas. She started high school at South, then transferred to North to reunite with Dailey. Sierra appreciates that Dailey and EPIC have provided mentors to conduct player and team development sessions.

“We had a weekly class learning how we could communicate better within the team, what to do when you notice a teammate is going through any issues,” Sierra said. “The change from the beginning of the season to the end with how we dealt with things was night and day.”

Sierra credits mental toughness coaching with helping her get through a season ending injury.

“My freshman year I averaged nearly a double-double in points and rebounds. My sophomore year I went through an injury.” 

Her mother, Sherie Thomas, recalled how Sierra played through the pain until she couldn’t anymore.

“She got injured in a game and continued to play because that’s how much her team meant to her,” Sherie Thomas said. “Finally she had to come out. We only realized after taking her to the doctor that she had torn her ACL.”

Sierra said sitting out and working her way back through rehab taught her mindfulness.

“It was hard,” she said. “But I learned I need to do what’s in my control. I couldn’t control my injury but I could control how I reacted to it and how I grew from it.” 

Last year she was still feeling her way back, working off the rust.

“I haven’t been able to hit double-doubles,” Sierra said. “But this year I want to get as close as I can to average a double-double because I know it will help the team. We lost one of our biggest rebounders. I need to excel in that role.”

To get back to where she used to be, she’s taking advantage of any time she gets on the floor in team practice and in extra individual workouts.

Much like her star teammates, Sierra’s getting interest from colleges. Like them, she hopes to see how far she can take her playing career in the new age of NIL, revenue sharing and social media followings.

“There’s been a lot more attention to women’s sports,” Sierra said. “I’m able to now watch the WNBA on live television and I haven’t always been able to do that. It’s really exciting where it’s going.”

Sherie Thomas is not only proud of what Sierra does on the court but in the classroom, including all state academic scholar honors and dual language studies.

“Sierra is a scholar first and foremost,” Sherie Thomas said. “She’s always prioritizing her education.”

Coach Dailey said her student athletes accept that they must perform in the classroom before they perform on the court.

Dariauna Lewis is someone Sierra looks up to.

“She comes to North to visit whenever she’s in town from playing overseas,” Sierra said. “She’s a leader we can look up to because she’s been in our shoes.”

Sierra confirmed she’d like to pay it forward, too, after her college career ends. Teammate A’yanna Hill also views Dariauna Lewis as a role model and mentor.

Nebraska Supreme coach Latrell Wrightsell said this each-one-to-teach-one model inspires succeeding generations of players.

“That’s the beauty of it,” Wrightsell said. “Young ladies now can see the ones that came before them and know it’s very possible.” 

Omaha Central grad Lilliana Johnson grew up around organized athletics since her grandfather runs Deleon Youth Sports.

“I was introduced to basketball when I was 5. I tried a lot of different sports and basketball was the only one I stuck with. I really loved it,” said Johnson, who grew up part of a cohort of girl jocks who became like a second family. “Basketball has helped me grow as a person. It made me realize you can always push forward in something you want to do in life and always get better. If you’re determined, there’s always a will and a way.”

She valued competing in out-of-state tournaments for the Latrell Wrightsell-coached AAU team she played on. “

It’s cool to experience being part of a Nebraska team that can go out and compete and win against teams from other states,” she said.

Wrightsell said those are priceless platforms for his athletes to shine in.

“EPIC helps support Nebraska Hoops Elite so we can travel to play in the best tournaments and leagues where our young ladies can showcase their skills to college coaches,” Wrightsell said. “Without them it would be very challenging to give these young ladies a level playing field, exposure and opportunities.”

Getting that exposure was key for Johnson.

“I knew I wanted to go to college for it,” she said. “Not a lot of people in my family have been to college. I wanted to be that changing point for my family. That’s what pushed me to do better.”

After high school she opted to attend Cloud County Community College in Kansas.

“Going the junior college route was probably one of the best things I did,” she said. “Not being too far away from home but being far enough.”

Her play there, in summer leagues and at Central attracted the attention of Division I Cal State Fullerton, whose scholarship offer she accepted. She’s part of a new roster for its new coach.

“I feel very blessed to have this opportunity,” she said.

She feels she’s in the right place at the right time with women’s basketball enjoying the Caitlin Clark effect.

“This is a big change in women’s athletics,” she said. “It’s a dream come true for girls. It makes me so happy this is the era I get to play in women’s basketball.”

Aniya Foster is only entering eighth grade but already has a taste of athletic glory by being part of three EPIC softball league championship teams. Her mother Shanna Brown said Aniya nearly missed out on sharing in all that success.

“When I first brought playing to her attention she actually said no, she didn’t want to do it,” Brown said. “But I encouraged her to try it anyway. She went to that first practice and she loved it and kept going.” 

What got her hooked, said Aniya, “was the team, the girls who bonded well together – we had shared interests.”

“I loved having something to do over the summer and not sitting at home,” she added. “It gets me outside and active.”

The increased confidence, her mother said, prompted Aniya to get involved in school plays, serve as pool manager, lead the African American book studies club and participate in a Girls Inc., University of Nebraska Omaha STEM program, Eureka.

“Aniya knows she wants to be around friends who care about their lives. She wants to be a positive example,” she said.

Brown appreciates that EPIC gives girls like her daughter, Aniya, opportunities to see local college and professional teams play at no cost as both a fun night out and horizon expanding experience. She and other parents like that EPIC does social media shout-outs when girls achieve between the lines or in the classroom, celebrating everything from championships to scholarships to sportsmanship.

Kenzie Lewis echoed many of her fellow student-athletes.

“I’m so glad EPIC for Girls is a thing because they do give girls around Omaha some notice and ring some bells to their name.”