Marian “Mo” Moorer

Marian Moorer, better known as “Mo,” grew up in the Dyckman Houses. It was there she grew her love of basketball. On the black top, with no shade and no water, she began her basketball journey participating in skill clinics run by basketball legend, Jim Couch.  With a group of childhood friends from Dyckman she went to her first tryouts on the inaugural girls’ basketball team at Riverside Church, under the tutelage of Coach John Black.  At Riverside, she saw girls who also loved basketball and worked hard to get better.  The competition was steep, and she had the desire to improve her skills. At Riverside, everyone was passionate about basketball; everyone was disciplined, and she loved it!  Moreover, at Riverside she met some of her lifelong friends.

Initially Mo was set to attend Murray Bergtraum H.S but after practice she was approached by Rhonda Windam. Rhonda said you can go to Bergtraum or come to Kennedy “to win a championship”.  It was an easy decision for “Mo”, Murray Bergtraum was out, and John F. Kennedy was in!   There was one person standing in her way to attend Kennedy, her mom.  She made a deal with her mom to sit out her sophomore season at Kennedy so her grades would not drop.  Mo didn’t stray far away as she became the team manager of the girls’ basketball team in her sophomore year at Kennedy.  In this role, Mo had a close look as to what it took to be a champion.  She watched the competitive practices, the leadership amongst players and the comradery amongst all. Going into her junior year she was ready.  In her junior and senior campaigns, she racked up 880 points and was named to the Daily News All Star Team, Newsday Classic and earned All-City honors.  After Kennedy Marian attended St. Peter’s college then transferred to the University of Delaware where she graduated with a Bachelor’s in business writing and then earned a Master of Social Work from Hunter College.

A career ending injury halted her future play until she played in the NYC corporate league at the urging of a co-worker. She agreed to return to the court and took her then 7-year-old son, Jarred, to her first game.  It had been years since she played and during that game, the first half, it didn’t go well.  As she came back to the bench, she asked her son Jarred how she was doing, and he said in his 7-year-old voice, “MOM YOU ARE TRASH”! She could not believe it, so she took a deep breath and went to work in the second half.  During the second half, everything came back.  At the end of the game she asked Jarred again what he thought now about her play, and he said, “you alright”.  That little comment was the motivated she needed. It lit the flame to return to basketball.

That same year, Marian was called by childhood friend Ken Stevens, CEO of Dyckman Basketball to oversee the Girls Division at Dyckman Basketball.  She thought, wow this is a coincidence. She stepped up and accepted his offer.  After one season, she was filled with more desire and passion to return to her love of basketball. Although Dyckman was a great experience, Marian felt young woman needed a league of their own, where they would be the sole focus.  She called her childhood friend Alexis Smith who was the girls basketball coach at Abyssinian Church.  After talking to Alexis, The Uptown Challenge Woman’s Summer League was created.  Once her idea materialized, she found the Courtney Calendar Playground called her mentor Mr. Couch to tell him that she would start her own league.  Mr. Couch was enthusiastic and vowed his support and has been a constant staple at the Uptown Challenge Women’s Summer League, NYC since.

Marian’s mission has been to provide a premier basketball league dedicated solely to development of young woman in the NYC tri-state area.  For the past 21 years, the Uptown Challenge has maintained a professional environment where young girls can hone their talent on and off the court in the high school and college/open divisions. The league has not only turned players that have gone on to earn NCAA scholarships, but Uptown Challenge has also trained countless young woman on careers outside of basketball.  They have taught young women disciple, professionalism and accountability ensuring that all are embedded with the confidence that they can achieve whatever goals they set out for themselves.  Marian ensures everyone who works and plays at the Uptown Challenge gets seen and feels valued.

In 2021, Marian retired from the NYC Department of Homeless Services as the Associate Commissioner of Street Homeless.  She is the proud mother of Jarred, a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and she continues to operate the Uptown Challenge Women’s Summer League.