At the heart of Sacramento’s basketball culture, the Golden 1 Center was alive with a different kind of energy on June 16. The Sacramento Kings and the Center at Sierra Health Foundation’s Black Child Legacy Campaign (BCLC) opened the ninth season of Kings & Queens Rise, a co‑ed sports and mentoring league that will host more than 300 children from grades four through eleven.

The 10‑week program will run from June 16 to August 22, featuring 24 teams drawn from neighborhoods such as Arden Arcade, Del Paso Heights, North Highlands, Foothill Farms, Fruitridge‑Stockton, Marina Vista, Meadowview, Oak Park and Valley Hi. Players will compete in community courts across the county, with the season culminating in an end‑of‑season tournament.

Kings & Queens Rise is a partnership between the Sacramento Kings, the Center at Sierra Health Foundation, United Way Capital Region, Sacramento State University and Ball Out Academy. The league is part of the BCLC’s broader mission to improve health and life outcomes for Black children and families in the region. The Kings contribute through their Kings Youth Basketball Development program, while Ball Out Academy’s commissioner Kenneth Duncan leads weekly sessions that blend skill instruction with mentorship.

"The program demonstrates what’s possible when sports, mentorship and community come together with purpose," said the Kings’ chief operating officer, Matina Kolokotronis. The Center’s founder and chief executive officer, Chet P. Hewitt, added, "The league creates community spaces where young people are seen, supported and challenged to grow."

The tip‑off, presented by the G‑Unity Foundation, offered participants a chance to play on an NBA court, attend a silent disco, join a cheer and dance clinic, tour the Kings locker room and press conference room, and have a professional photoshoot. Local media and community leaders highlighted the event, underscoring the Kings’ commitment to social responsibility.

Participants like Cayden Taylor described the experience: "Being here makes me feel understood, listened to, very important, like I really mean something in this world." Program officer Jedida Gomes noted that the initiative "has developed into an environment and community space where kids want to return year after year; there is a culture cultivated here that is changing the makeup of Sacramento."

The league was created in response to the killing of Stephon Clark and has since become a key component of the BCLC’s strategy to reduce inequities and expand opportunities for youth. By offering safe, structured activities that combine athletic training with mentorship and community engagement, the partnership with the Sacramento Kings and other local institutions has provided a platform for young athletes to thrive.

Ball Out Academy’s weekly sessions emphasize skill development, leadership and character building. The structure allows mentors to work closely with players, fostering relationships that extend beyond the court. In addition to basketball, each neighborhood fields a co‑ed cheer squad that practices weekly and performs during Saturday game days, adding a performance‑arts dimension that encourages confidence and teamwork.

The Sacramento Kings, the oldest NBA franchise in Sacramento, have used the Golden 1 Center as a venue for community outreach since their relocation to the city in 1985. The Kings & Queens Rise program continues that tradition, providing a platform for youth development that aligns with the franchise’s broader community goals.

Looking ahead, the league will remain active through late August, with the final tournament scheduled for the last weekend of the season. The Sacramento Kings and the BCLC will monitor the program’s impact on youth development and community health, reporting on outcomes in future releases. Participants will have the opportunity to return for subsequent seasons, as the program has maintained high engagement year after year.