Hoops Abeulas | Nike
Agency: Nike
Location: Orizaba, Mexico
Nike sent me to Orizaba, Mexico, to document something special, something that goes beyond the usual stories of sports and competition. I flew in on my own, with no real grasp of Spanish and only a few past trips to Mexico under my belt. But I was ready for whatever adventure awaited. What I found was a group of women—some in their 50s, others well into their 80s—who embody the spirit of the game in ways I’d never seen. These women still dive for loose balls, throw elbows, and move like they’re in their prime, refusing to slow down. The way they play, the way they live, gives new meaning to "go hard in the paint." Photographing their energy, for what has quickly become one of my favorite shoots, was a reminder that passion doesn’t have an expiration date.