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This past weekend as she helped lead the Giants of Africa Dream Big Clinic — where more than 50 female campers were coached on basketball skills, confidence building and leadership — Tatham saw the next generation empowered to achieve their goals.

“Nothing like this existed when I was growing up,� the 39-year-old Tatham said. “I see in them who I was 30 years ago and I really had no idea how to become a professional player … Having an opportunity to have women come in and inspire you, tell you a little bit about their story, give you the nudge to be great, support others around you, is really important.�

Inspiring  youth is one of the  objectives of Giants of Africa, the brainchild of RaptorsÌý±è°ù±ð²õ¾±»å±ð²Ô³Ù Masai Ujiri, who uses the charity to reach communities across Africa and North America through basketball.

The Malvern clinic was among several events leading up to Thursday’s annual Giants of Africa Night at Scotiabank Arena, celebrating the legacy of Nelson Mandela, when the Raptors will host the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Tatham, who was joined at the all-girls clinic by fellow Canadian basketball great Kia Nurse, grew up watching her brother Patrick play and didn’t think she would ever get a similar chance. Then the WNBA arrived in 1997. Pioneers such as Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie changed the landscape for female athletes.

“That’s when the fire really started burning for me. Before that, you were looking only to the guys playing the sport,� Tatham said. “Now, these kids can hear about some of us and what we are doing in the industry, playing the sport and see that they can do it, too. You can’t be what you can’t see, and having young girls see that through us is so valuable.�

Tatham played at the University of Massachusetts, then professionally overseas in Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Australia, Russia and France. She also played for Canada in two Olympics (2012 and 2016) and won gold at the 2015 FIBA Americas championship in Edmonton.

In 2017, she became an assistant coach with the University of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Varsity Blues women’s team, then head coach from 2020 to 2024. 

Showcasing successful careers such as Tatham’s is part of the growth of Giants of Africa.

“Whatever you want to become, you will become,� Ujiri told campers at the Malvern clinic. “Do everything with pride and be confident. You have to dream big. You have to respect people around you. I am telling you that you girls are going to become something big.�

Ujiri talks often about the importance of women in his life, and has hired women for key positions with the Raptors. Giants of Africa wants young girls to aspire to those roles and see that it is possible.

“These girls are special, but they need guidance. Some live in tougher environments, but they truly need to know that they can achieve their goals,� he said. “I’ve seen it in Africa and see it everywhere, and truly they inspire me, too. They lead us in many ways.�