For Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, a point guard who played for Indiana State and the University of Memphis, this is huge news. She wanted to continue her basketball career in Europe, but could not play because she's a Muslim woman in hijab, which would have violated FIBA's uniform rule.
In addition to Muslim women, the headwear ban also kept Sikh men in turbans and Jewish men in kippot from participating in professional leagues worldwide. But now, thanks to the efforts of athletes like Abdul-Qaadir, players will be able to wear their headwear come Oct. 17, 2017.
Hannah Abrams is the senior content editor for Promo Marketing. In her free time, she enjoys coming up with excuses to avoid exercise, visiting her hometown in Los Angeles and rallying for Leonardo DiCaprio to win his first second Academy Award.