The San Antonio Spurs professional basketball team hired Becky Hammon, 37, as an assistant coach on August 5, 2014, and feminists all over America are cheering.

Hammon is the second woman ever to work on an NBA coaching staff, but the first to be a full-time, paid employee.

Hammon played college ball at Colorado State University and is the record holder in points, three-pointers, and assists. Needless to say, this woman knows what she’s doing on the basketball court. Currently, Hammon is a member of the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars but will be retiring at the conclusion of this season, and will assist in coaching San Antonio’s men's team.      

This is incredible for so many reasons.   

The San Antonio Spurs are 2014 NBA Champions. For an organization as successful and world renowned as the Spurs to accept a woman into an environment completely dominated by men is revolutionary and frankly, quite inspiring. In the future, I hope more professional sports teams are open to hiring women for their coaching staff.  

"I very much look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said in a statement. "Having observed her working with our team this past season, I'm confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs."

Gregg Popovich is distinguished as one of the best basketball minds of all time. Adding Hammon to the mix of coaches will further the diversity and overall success of the already proficient team that is The San Antonio Spurs.      

“I know Coach Pop has made it very clear to me that I’m being hired because of my basketball IQ and because I’m qualified,” Hammon said. “He says it just so happens you are a woman.”   

Let's be completely honest, there isn’t much opportunity for women to succeed professionally in sports. According to the NCAA, only one percent of female college players go on to play professionally. The opportunities for women diminish even further when looking at coaching professionally, especially in men’s basketball.   

Young women dreaming of a career in sports definitely need someone to look up to, and Hammon fits the bill. She is well spoken and sports savvy. Hopefully she will inspire and encourage girls to pursue a career in sports without feeling the pressure of prejudice.   

It’s great to see an organization like the San Antonio Spurs embrace Hammon with such open arms. As a woman who isn’t extremely invested or interested in NBA basketball I can now say that the Spurs have my loyalty, appreciation, and fandom.