How Holmes is Shaping the Next Generation of Las Vegas Basketball Players
Sequoia Holmes has spent more than a decade competing on basketball courts across the world. She has won championships in Germany and Angola, led a Slovakian team to the EuroCup Final Four, and competed in the WNBA. But some of her most meaningful accomplishments are her contributions to the girls’ basketball scene in Las Vegas–the city where she grew up, where she learned the game, and where she is now pouring into the next generation.
That commitment earned Holmes the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Civic Leadership Award, the annual honor recognizing one athlete across all AU sports for meaningful civic leadership efforts both during the season and beyond. But the award is just a reflection of something Holmes has been quietly building for years.
Holmes serves as assistant director for Vegas Elite Girls Basketball Club, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit youth basketball organization serving girls ages 5 to 18. The club runs skill development, mentorship, and leadership programming year-round and competes on the Nike circuit. But for Holmes, her work goes far beyond basketball.
“We’re not just coaching basketball,” Holmes said. “We’re teaching life and what it’s going to be like outside of just what you do in your home. Your journey in basketball is going to be directly translatable to your life. The accountability from me isn’t because I want to win championships or win games. Accountability from me comes because I want you to be able to have a sense of accountability in your life going forward, when maybe your coach isn’t there, your parent isn’t there. You have to be able to stand on your own.”
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Her connection to the club grew out of a friendship and a shared sense of urgency.
A close friend reached out when he had a group of girls who needed direction. Holmes jumped in immediately, and what started as a conversation eventually became something much bigger. She combined forces with his organization, and together they revamped the program under the Vegas Elite name–building something the city had been missing for years.
“When I was a little girl playing in the city, there weren’t very many good options for myself and my teammates and friends that I grew up with to play, with an example of somebody who’s done it,” Holmes said. “Me being someone who’s played at the professional level and at the college level, I could really pour into and mentor them in an aspect of just understanding and seeing where they’re going. It’s super important to me, one because it’s the community I grew up in, but also the future of what I want basketball to look like for my city.”
That vision for what basketball in Las Vegas can look like for girls has been taking shape in real time. Holmes has watched the landscape shift dramatically since she started her work, with more young women earning Division I and Division II scholarships than ever before. She sees the momentum building and wants to make sure the girls in her program understand that those opportunities are within reach.
“It’s like spontaneous combustion right now,” she said. “I’m seeing so many girls that are getting offered Division I scholarships, Division II scholarships, or opportunities to play basketball beyond high school like never before in our city. All of those things–just being a part of growing that culture and seeing it grow–is just empowering.”
For Holmes, the motivation behind the work runs deeper than basketball. She grew up surrounded by people who helped nurture her as a person, and she views her work with Vegas Elite as a way to honor that legacy.
“Going through my experiences and remembering the multitude of people I would come across and how they affected me,” she said. “I really believe in vibes and energy. You can plant a seed, and it can be watered to grow, or you can plant a seed and completely mess it up. I always want to have a green thumb. I want to be able to foster and empower confidence. Maybe not to just always be a professional basketball player, but a strong woman, a strong black woman.”
Her approach to leadership has been shaped by a combination of mentors over the years, from her mother to former professional players like Tina Thompson, to a high school coach who pushed her to understand the influence she had on those around her.
“My personality as a leader is a combination of so many different people. Players, coaches, counselors, teachers, and I’m still evolving,” Holmes said. “I’d say it’s just a combination of all of these things. The stern one, the disciplined one, the talker, the jokey one–all of those things kind of in a melting pot.”
That same philosophy guides the way she shows up for the girls in her program every day, not as someone with all the answers, but as someone committed to being a consistent presence in her players’ lives.
“You really have to learn how to serve before you can lead,” Holmes said. “Be someone who’s not afraid to do the things that no one else wants to do, because oftentimes those are the things that are most needed. I think in this world in general, we need a lot more people that are willing to do things that aren’t pretty, don’t make us a lot of money, but you lead with your heart first.”
Holmes chose Vegas Elite as her Athlete Cause during both the 2024 and 2025 AU Pro Basketball seasons, and she isn’t slowing down. Those interested in supporting the club can give donations that go towards gear, tournament fees, and travel. Holmes and her team welcome anyone in the Las Vegas area with a child who’s interested in the game.
“We just want to be able to offer the tools for anybody who’s in need,” she said. “We have our arms open. Of course, we’re nonprofit, so people that want to donate or bring gear… Those things are greatly appreciated. But mostly just the caring heart. If you have the opportunity to be around, come and be a part of it. We’re open to all of that.”
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
