Mahdi Talebpour - Professor of Sports Management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
Narges Arabkhani - MSc of sports management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
Mohammad keshtidar - Professor of Sports Management, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

The purpose of the current research was to investigate and prioritize the promoting and inhibiting factors in the development of women's professional basketball in Khorasan Razavi, Iran. This is a mixed study conducted with an exploratory-analytical approach. In the qualitative part of the research, the interviewees included sports management professors, prominent basketball pioneers in Khorasan Razavi province, professional female basketball players, as well basketball boards’ managers and representatives. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population included professional female basketball players, coaches, and basketball pioneers in Khorasan Razavi. In general, ۸ interviews and ۱۳۴ questionnaires were collected in the research process. The qualitative data was analyzed through the content analysis method while the quantitative data analysis process was completed by using SPSS software (v. ۲۲) and exploratory factor analysis, as well as Friedman's ranking tests. The findings of the research revealed that out of ۴۸ items obtained as effective factors on the development of women's professional basketball in Khorasan Razavi province, ۲۵ items were considered as promoting factors and ۲۳ items were found as inhibiting factors. Also, based on the results of the exploratory factor analysis test, ۶ promoting factors ("socio-cultural factors", "technical level", "basic factors", "expert human resources", "competition and event", and "scientific indicators") and ۵ inhibiting factors ("financial issues", "motivational supportive factors", "facilities factor", "club ownership" and "management perspective”) were identified. "

Sport development, Professional sport, Sport management, strategic management