By Aliza Feldman, Opinions Editor
Shira Hagag’s basketball journey began in her hometown of Netanya, Israel, in a family where everyone played the sport. Inspired by her older brother, she first picked up a basketball as a child. By the time she attended Wingate Academy, a sports-focused boarding school in Israel, she was serious enough to join the U16, U18 and U20 youth national teams. She also played on a professional women’s basketball team in Israel, gaining firsthand experience in high-level competition.
Hagag’s decision to come to the United States at age twenty was motivated by a combination of athletic ambition and curiosity. “I wanted to go to a school where sports are taken seriously,” Hagag told the YU Observer.
She started at the University of Denver, where the intensity and structure of Division I athletics pushed her to grow as a player. Later, she moved to Cal Poly Humboldt, a Division II school, before transferring to Yeshiva University in her senior year, drawn by the promise of strong academics and a welcoming Jewish environment.
After experiencing antisemitism at her previous school in California, Hagag said finding a university where she could feel safe and connected to her Jewish identity became a top priority. She had been deeply involved in Cal Poly Humboldt’s Jewish community, serving as president of the university’s Chabad, and yet, incidents of antisemitism toward her and the small Jewish population made daily life challenging.
“I could handle it, but I didn’t want to have to face it all the time,” Hagag said.
Hagag’s first impressions of Stern’s athletics were eye-opening. “It was a big adjustment,” she said. “At my other schools, they have a full gym, a home court, a big lifting room — everything. Here, we don’t even play on our own court.”
For Hagag, not having a true home court is not just a logistical challenge: it changes the entire culture around the team. A court that carries the school’s name signals pride and legitimacy. Without that space, she said, it’s harder to build the same sense of belonging that defined her past athletic experiences.
What stands out from Hagag’s reflections is her view that athletics extend beyond competition and serve as a foundation for resilience and personal growth. Discipline, teamwork, handling stress and developing a strong work ethic are lessons that carry far beyond the court. “Companies look for athletes for these reasons,” she said. “You know how to show up on time, work in a team and handle pressure.”
Hagag also brings a unique lens, having competed in both D1 and, now, D3 environments. She sees how universities like Denver and Cal Poly Humboldt elevate athletics as a core part of campus culture, while at YU, women’s sports are still fighting for visibility and resources. She credits the program directors for their dedication. “They are all amazing,” she said. “But they are limited with what they can do.” She points out a cycle familiar to smaller programs: without investment, fewer top athletes are attracted to the school, which limits competitiveness, which in turn justifies continued low investment. She believes that with more support and resources, the women’s programs at YU could break the cycle and reach a level of competitiveness and recognition that matches the dedication of its athletes.
But to her teammates and future Stern athletes, she offers a simple message: don’t let limited resources become an excuse. “If you want, you could,” Hagag said. To her, progress depends on effort and commitment — showing up for one’s teammates and putting in the work.
At the same time, she said that some Stern athletes are stretched thin, competing in two or three sports, which is almost unheard of at other universities. While a sign of dedication, she sees it as evidence of how much more YU could achieve if athletes had the resources to focus deeply on their primary sport. “The girls are willing to put the work [in], but they are very limited,” she said. “The moment [YU] takes it more seriously, the athletes will become more serious too.”
Hagag sees YU athletics as bearing a unique responsibility. As the only Jewish university with a competitive athletics program, YU athletes carry not just the colors of their school but the pride of representing a community and tradition. “You play not only for yourself or your team, but for the Jewish community—you put it on [your] jersey as well.” Hagag believes that if YU invests more in its women’s sports, the programs at Stern could reach the same level of excellence as the men’s teams, attract top talent and demonstrate that Stern athletes are serious competitors.
Hagag’s story shows how far commitment to the game can take an athlete, and it serves as a reminder to Yeshiva University that the potential of its athletic programs is only as limited as the resources and commitment the school provides.
Photo Credit: Shira Hagag