Trailblazing Women Basketball Coaches

Basketball was long considered a sport for men, but the emergence of the women’s game over the last several decades has helped push the sport forward as something for all people.

As females in the men’s basketball world still tend to be hired more as hosts, analysts, and reporters, we are seeing several women get into coaching, front office positions, and even ownership. These four ladies – and many others – understand the deeper level of this game, taking basketball to another level—even in online sports betting.

This understanding has led to the rise of female coaches, some of whom have achieved great heights. Here, we will be showing you four trailblazing female basketball coaches.

Becky Hammon

Becky Hammon joined the NBA in 2014 under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. She became the first full-time female assistant coach and the first woman to work as head coach during the regular-season game where they won the championship.

Hammon is a well-known name in the WNBA. She went undrafted in 1999 after a successful career at Colorado State, where she led the Rams to the Sweet Sixteen as a senior, but eventually signed on with the New York Liberty and played their for seven seasons.

She earned the nickname “Big Shot Becky” after her penetrating potential to hit shots in the clutch. She went on to earn All-WNBA honors four times and was a six-time WNBA All-Star. She recently returned to the league, becoming the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces in 2022.

Hammon has stated in an interview that “basketball is a no-gender sport.” Her undying determination and prowess in an environment dominated by men kickstarted the effort of the NBA to expand its talent pool.

Teresa Weatherspoon

If you are a women’s basketball lover, you must have seen an interview with Weatherspoon a few months back sharing inspirational messages. Her intensity and perception are not new if you know her history.

Before Weatherspoon began her WNBA career, she was already a superstar in school, leading Louisiana Tech to one of their two NCAA titles. For almost a decade, Teresa played overseas before returning to participate in the Women NBA’s inaugural season of 1997.

She was rewarded with the league’s first two Defensive Player Awards in 1997 and 1998. Weatherspoon became a fan favorite in New York as she always thrilled the crowd.

She concluded her basketball career as a WNBA All-Star five times in a row (1999-2003), a two-time WNBA steals champion (1997-1998), and made four Finals appearances.

Weatherspoon worked as the head women’s coach at Louisiana Tech from 2009 to 2014. The New Orleans Pelicans later made her a full-time assistant coach in 2020. The Pelicans front office has praised her impact on the team, as she was a leader and a natural motivator.

Swin Cash

Swin Cash won two NCAA Championships, two Olympic gold medals and three WNBA Championships. She was versatile in her playing days as she could grab boards, got buckets, and was also a good defender. Cash is one of those talented athletes who are not defined by their sport.

During the off-season, cash appeared as an ESPN analyst and even in a movie. After 15 seasons in the WNBA, Swin joined the 2017 New York Liberty as the development director. Since 2019, she has been the VP of Basketball Operations and Team Development for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Renee Montgomery

Montgomery was the first player to be an owner and also an executive of a WNBA team. She left a long-lasting impression on the court. She was among the top 5 list in 2009 and won the WNBA championship twice (2015 and 2017).

When Montgomery retired, she did not waste time impacting the social justice front and the WNBA. She is one of three owners of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, a team she played for 2018-19.