68 years. That's how long the National Basketball League went without a full-time, salaried female head coach. Until Becky Hammon came along.
The South Dakota native and Colorado State Alum is no stranger to the sport. Throughout her illustrious career, she received many accolades. As a senior in high school, she was voted South Dakota Player of the Year after averaging 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.
Due to her small frame (5'6) many coaches didn't think she'd fit with their style of play. However, she caught the attention of an assistant coach at Colorado State and committed during her senior year of high school.
As a Ram, Hammon was named All-American three times, was named Colorado Sportswoman of the year. During the 1998-1999 season, Hammon led her team to the Women's NCAA Sweet Sixteen and was named the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) Mountain Division Player of the year.
Hammon broke several records at Colorado State, including points, points per game, field goals made, free throws made, three points made, and assists. After surpassing the greats at her university, she was still not on many WNBA scouts' radar. She went undrafted in the 1999 WNBA Draft and signed with the New York Liberty. Her impressive play on both sides of the court made her a standout for the organization.
During the 2007 WNBA Draft, Hammon was involved in a trade, sending her to the San Antonio Stars, where she remained until 2014. While with the Stars, Hammon continued to play with intensity, contributing to several of their trips to the WNBA Playoffs.
In the 2013 season, she suffered a season-ending ACL injury which led her to spend time at the San Antonio Spurs training facilities. There, she conveyed her aspirations to coach after retiring from the WNBA.
While rehabbing her knee, she also gave inputs to the Spurs coaching staff on game strategy, etc. Once the Spurs had seen Hammon's basketball IQ, Coach Gregg Popovich invited her to attend several team practices.
"She's not just a good player but a smart player, a great person in our community, just somebody that we all respect so much, we gave her the opportunity to sit with us during the year. She came to our coaches' meetings, argued with us. She did everything. She's been wonderful,'' Coach Popovich said to reporters.
Following the completion of her rehabilitation, Hammon announced her retirement succeeding the 2014 WNBA season.
In August of 2014, she was hired as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the first woman to do so. She is tied to many 'firsts' for women in one of the major leagues. 'First Woman Head Coach in the NBA Summer League,' and the 'First Woman to be a part of an All-Star Game Coaching Staff' to name a few.
In hopes of further advancing her career, Hammon interviewed for the General Manager Position for the Milwaukee Bucks last year. Although she didn't get the position, she was a finalist, and other organizations have voiced their support for her to eventually become a head coach or in a front office position.
As a small token of gratitude for all she has done, Colorado State and the San Antonio Stars have retired her jersey as well as, espnW honoring her as Sportswoman of the Year in 2014. Next season, Hammon will continue to be on the Spurs' coaching staff in a higher ranking assistant coach capacity.
Her abilities and contributions to the advancement of women in a male-dominated industry do not go unnoticed.
Here's a fantastic quote from Hammon to close that we all should live by.
"My story, just in general, is a story of someone who was overlooked, someone who was told they can't, someone who was told, 'You're too slow. You're too short.' I've heard every reason why I shouldn't be successful. And yet, you just take that all in. I always say you should be very careful with the voices you listen to. And my closest voices have always told me, 'You can.'"
