Maygen Naassan: Hekmeh's youngest female basketball captain

Being a basketball player is no easy path, especially because some may question whether basketball is a sport for women. But female athletes continue to challenge these perceptions through their dedication, determination and achievements. Maygen Naassan, a young and talented basketball player, is one of them. At just 20 years old, she has become the youngest female captain of Hekmeh Sports Club, one of Lebanon's most renowned basketball clubs. She also competes in the First Division, taking on a leadership role among teammates older than herself.

In fact, Maygen's journey to the captain's seat did not begin with Hekmeh, and basketball was never part of her original plans. Before finding her place on the court, she was a national-team football player.

At the age of 14, a coach at her school noticed her athletic abilities and encouraged her to try basketball. Maygen initially turned down the invitation several times. However, the coach did not give up and contacted her parents, who encouraged her to give the sport a chance. She finally agreed to take part in a championship, thinking it would only be a two-week experience. Little did she know that this decision would gradually turn into a passion and eventually lead her to captaincy.

An unexpected love for basketball

"I liked it until we lost, because I'm a very competitive person," Maygen recalled during her interview with The Beiruter. Her first basketball championship did not end with the result she had hoped for. After her team finished second, she returned to football, determined to focus on the sport she already knew. She even went on to make the under-15 national football team. But basketball was not entirely out of the picture.

In 2020, she gradually found herself drawn back to the court. There was no defining moment when she decided to leave football behind. Her interest grew naturally, until basketball became the sport she wanted to pursue.

Maygen's journey continued at Champs, where she spent a year playing after the club was promoted to Division 1. It was during that period that Riyadi approached her and expressed interest in her potential as a young player. She joined the club in 2023, a move she describes as a turning point in her career. "I was surrounded by the best players in the country, training at the highest intensity one could train at," she said. "Without this transition to Riyadi, I would not be the player I am now."

The road to leadership

At just 20, Maygen is now leading teammates who are sometimes older and more experienced than she is. But she does not see the captaincy as a position of authority. For her, leadership is about encouraging others, keeping the team motivated and making everyone feel valued.

She credits two former teammates, whom she looked up to during her time at Riyadi, with teaching her important lessons about leadership. Today, she tries to follow their example while remaining true to her own personality. “I don't consider myself a leader in a formal sense. I just act like myself and stay natural, I motivate my teammates, support them and try to bring out the best in each of them,” she explained.

But earning that role came with difficult moments. One of her earliest challenges was working with a coach whose approach affected her confidence and made her question her place in basketball. But her family and teammates' support helped her through that period.

Another major setback came during the 2025 finals, when Maygen broke her foot in the third game. The injury kept her away from basketball for three months. But what stayed with her most was not only the time away from the court, but the feeling that she could have done more for her teammates.  “I'm not over the loss because I feel a huge responsibility for it. I know it's a team effort, but I believe I could have made a difference if I had been able to stay on the court,” she stated.

The new chapter for Hekmeh

For Maygen, being an athlete is not just about what happens during a game. It is also about the discipline it takes to show up every day, even when she is tired, has little energy or simply does not feel like training. She admitted that some days are harder than others, but she tries to stay focused and remind herself that progress comes from small steps. Her goal is to become a little better every day, even if the improvement is only one per cent.

She also spoke about the lack of recognition women's sports continue to face. Although she believes the situation is slowly improving in Lebanon, she feels there is still a long way to go. This makes Hekmeh's return to the women's basketball league particularly meaningful. After an absence of 25 years, the club has brought back its women's team, and Maygen hopes to be part of building something that will last. She is determined to help lead this young team towards success and hopes they can eventually bring the club back to the top.

Like many young women who dream of turning their love for sports into a career, Maygen has worked tirelessly to reach where she is today.  Now, as she takes on the responsibility of leading the club's women's team, she hopes to help build a successful new chapter for Hekmeh. As she said, “I'm really grateful for the opportunity they gave me. I promise to play with all my heart and give every ounce of energy, every ounce of passion onto the court.”