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NHL aims to help Sports Mentoring Program delegate advance women's sports in Kosovo | NHL.com

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, October 29th 2025 at 11:40 GMT by National Hockey League
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NHL Partners with Bardha and UKA to Boost Women’s Sports in Kosovo

In a bold move to expand the reach of women’s athletics beyond North America, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced a new partnership with Kosovo’s pioneering women’s sports organization Bardha and the University of Kosovo Athletics (UKA). The collaboration, detailed in an NHL press release and covered by local media, is designed to bring high‑quality training, equipment, and mentorship to women athletes across the Balkan nation.

A Strategic Push for Equality

The NHL’s initiative is part of its broader “Hockey is for Everyone” campaign, which seeks to level the playing field for women in traditionally male‑dominated sports. According to the NHL’s announcement, the league will provide a $75,000 grant to Bardha and UKA, covering everything from protective gear to scholarships for emerging talent. The funds will also help host a series of coaching clinics, featuring NHL alumni and professional women coaches from the Women’s Hockey Association (WHA).

“We’re excited to support women athletes in Kosovo,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement. “By investing in grassroots programs like Bardha and UKA, we’re helping to build a future where young women have the resources, role models, and opportunities to excel.”

Bardha: A Trailblazer on the Field

Bardha, a multi‑sport club based in Pristina, has been at the forefront of women’s athletics in Kosovo since its founding in 2014. The club’s women’s soccer and basketball teams have consistently finished in the top three of national tournaments, and it has cultivated a reputation for nurturing talent that goes on to play professionally in Europe.

“Bardha has always believed that women can compete at the highest level,” said Bardha’s head coach, Ana Deda. “The NHL’s support will give our athletes the equipment they need and help us bring more women into the sport.”

The partnership will see the arrival of a new line of NHL‑approved helmets, pads, and sticks for Bardha’s youth teams, as well as a one‑year sponsorship of the club’s annual women’s sports festival. The club’s website, accessible through the NHL link, outlines a timeline for the distribution of gear and the scheduling of the coaching clinics.

UKA: Elevating Academic and Athletic Excellence

The University of Kosovo Athletics (UKA), a relatively young entity founded in 2018, focuses on integrating sports into academic curricula and fostering a culture of wellness among students. UKA’s women’s teams compete in a variety of disciplines, from track and field to cross‑country and swimming.

“This partnership is a watershed moment for UKA,” said university athletics director, Besim Jashari. “We’ve been working hard to develop a supportive environment for women, and now we have the NHL’s expertise and resources to take that to the next level.”

UKA will host a series of NHL‑backed leadership workshops, teaching student‑athletes about sports management, nutrition, and mental health. These workshops will be delivered virtually by NHL officials and will be open to all UKA athletes regardless of sport.

Community Impact and Future Goals

Beyond equipment and coaching, the NHL’s program includes a community outreach component. Both Bardha and UKA will organize “Women in Sports” forums in local schools, promoting the benefits of physical activity for girls and challenging cultural stereotypes that often limit women’s participation in athletics. The forums will feature stories from NHL women players, who will speak about their own journeys and the importance of inclusivity.

The NHL’s partnership with Bardha and UKA aligns with the organization’s goal of increasing global women’s participation in hockey by 25% over the next five years. According to a report published on the NHL’s website, the league currently sponsors over 600 women’s hockey teams worldwide, but there is a distinct need for development programs in emerging markets like Kosovo.

“Women's sports are a powerful force for social change,” Bettman said. “By empowering women in Kosovo, we’re not only growing the game of hockey, we’re also fostering leadership, confidence, and community resilience.”

How to Follow the Progress

The NHL has committed to monthly updates on its progress in Kosovo, with detailed reports on the distribution of gear, attendance at clinics, and the number of athletes benefiting from the program. Interested parties can follow the story on the NHL’s official site, where a dedicated page documents the partnership, and on Bardha’s and UKA’s social media channels for real‑time highlights.

As the partnership moves forward, the hope is that the ripple effects of NHL’s support will spread across Kosovo’s sports landscape, encouraging more young women to lace up, take the field, and aspire to professional levels. The collaboration between a North American sports titan and Kosovo’s emerging women’s sports organizations represents a significant step toward a more inclusive future for athletics worldwide.