What Basketball Has Given Me: Leah McDerment

For International Women's Day, we’re highlighting some of the women who make performance sport at the University of Essex what it is.

One of those athletes, is a guard for the Essex Rebels and a Masters student in Psychotherapy and Psychodynamic Counselling. Her basketball journey has taken her from Stockport to the US college system, across Europe and onto the international stage with England and Great Britain. At Essex, she’s balancing elite competition, postgraduate study and mentoring young players coming through the game.

Introducing ... Leah McDerment

Hoops since day one

Leah first picked up a basketball when she was five years old. Before she ever thought about confidence or leadership, the game was already teaching her both.

“It has impacted so many areas of my life, and I have been fortunate enough to learn so much about myself through some incredible experiences. You communicate constantly, make decisions under pressure, back yourself, uplift your team and trust people around you. That’s powerful, especially for women, because those aren’t always things we’re encouraged to do growing up.”

The game that takes you places

Basketball has opened doors all over the world for Leah. Her career has included a college scholarship in the US, competing across Europe and representing England and Great Britain.

“For the last 18 months, I’ve been at the University of Essex, where I play for the Essex Rebels and study a Masters in Psychotherapy and Psychodynamic Counselling. Balancing basketball and education reinforced how much crossover there is, from discipline and time management to communication and resilience.”

Passing it on

“As I have gotten older, and with that hindsight, I can recognise what young people might need. I can also see just how much I benefited from having role models, supportive parents and people around me who believed in me.”

Mentoring became a huge part of her motivation. Alongside her studies, Leah is passionate about creating the same environment for the next generation of players, dedicating time to working with young girls through AQ Basket, a programme that mentors girls on and off the court, and the Rebels outreach programme, supporting community activity further.

Different ways to lead

One of the things basketball teaches quickly is that leadership doesn’t always look the same.

“Some players lead loudly. Some players lead by example. Some are having quieter conversations behind the scenes and making everyone feel supported. Those lessons shape how I mentor now. It’s not about telling young people what to do; it’s about helping them trust themselves.”

A shoutout to the women behind the work

“I wouldn’t be here without other women’s support. It's all about the women that you surround yourself with and how they might motivate and inspire you. The belief they have in you is so inspiring, and I want to share that with the next generation.”

Across the University of Essex, female student-athletes are putting in the hours every week, training early, studying late, travelling to games, competing in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), supporting teammates and working their way back from injuries.

They’re balancing degrees with performance sport, showing up for their teams and representing the University with pride.

On International Women's Day, it’s a moment to recognise all of them: the effort, the resilience and the commitment it takes to keep showing up, for themselves and for their teams. We thank and salute you!

Opportunity matters

Women’s sport is being seen and celebrated more than ever. But visibility is only part of the story.

What really matters is opportunity; the chance to compete, develop and grow within environments that support both athletic and academic ambitions. For Leah, that means taking what sport has given her and using it to support the next generation of girls, “so they feel confident enough to use their voices and believe they belong on the court and far beyond it.”

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TO YOU ALL. Celebrate it, support it and share it.

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