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SPORTS Saturday 19 OctOber 2019
Women impacting NBA in various roles, 11 assistant coaches

By KYLE HIGHTOWER last year. Cash believes the
Associated Press NBA is realizing more wom-
Practice is over and Bos- en on staff is important to
ton Celtics assistant coach growing the league's over-
Kara Lawson is still working. all brand, business and bot-
She stands under the bas- tom line. "The reality is and
ket rebounding, giving the statistics prove it, is that
feedback to rookie guard having women included
Carsen Edwards as he in your business helps you
shoots from different spots get more inclusion, helps
on the court. After swishing you get the diversity you
his final three attempts, he need," she said. "Diversity
jogs over to her. of thought, not just black,
"Thanks coach," Edwards white, Asian, Latino, what-
says before exchanging a ever."
high-five with Lawson. Stephanie Ready, a for-
Welcome to the new-look mer assistant in the then
NBA, in which women are D-League, said a big fac-
impacting every aspect of tor in the opportunities for
the game — from broad- women comes from the
casting booths, officiating, younger generation of NBA
coaching on the sidelines, executives, such as 76ers
front-office executives to general manager Elton
ownership. Brand. She said the new
Lawson is one of a record crop of hiring managers do
11 women serving as as- a better job of recognizing
sistant coaches in the NBA what women bring to the
this season. Former WNBA table. "Some people will
star Swin Cash, along with age out," said Ready, who
Seattle Storm star Sue Bird, In this July 1, 2019, file photo, Boston Celtics assistant coach Kara Lawson passes the ball at the was among the first women
are working in NBA front of- team's training facility in Boston. hired as an assistant coach
fices. Associated Press for a men's team at Coppin
"It's not a fad," said Basket- as an assistant in 2017; and championship this month. 2002 and finished her 15- State, a former broadcast-
ball Hall of Famer Nancy the Sacramento Kings hired On the sideline, Washington year WNBA career at the er with the Charlotte Hor-
Lieberman. "It's opportu- three women as assistants NBA All-Stars John Wall and New York Liberty, where nets and now covers the
nities going to very ac- (Lieberman, Boucek and Bradley Beal were wearing she became an execu- NBA for TNT and Yahoo. "By
complished women who Lindsay Harding). the Wizard assistant's WNBA tive. Weatherspoon won that I mean the old regime
have given their life to the The BIG3, spearheaded by jersey and dancing from an NCAA title at Louisi- of men who thought that
game." founder and entertainer the stands . ana Tech in 1988 and was only men could do these
While it may not be a fad, it Ice Cube, is helping to nor- "The biggest thing I learned the demanding star point jobs."
is a recent trend. malize the idea of women is to share your voice and guard in the first seven sea- Richard Lapchick, who
Lieberman remembers a leading men, Lieberman what you've learned," To- sons for Liberty from 1997- tracks racial and gender
time when the presence of said. "I remember Donnie liver said. "Doing that has 2003. She spent the last five hiring numbers for the NBA,
women was hard to spot or did an interview and he helped me communicate years as the Liberty director NFL, NHL and MLB, has long
at best found only behind said, 'Maybe the best man with my guys." of player development. lauded the NBA as a leader
the scenes. for the job isn't a man at all.' Toliver is in a unique salary "They were ballers," Jack- in gender hiring practices.
The 61-year-old — who has He had a list of criteria he situation since she coaches son said. "They were good He credits the leadership of
broken barriers as a player, wanted to hit for his head for the Wizards and plays at their craft and I've taken NBA Commissioner Adam
a coach in the WNBA, head coach. And I hit those," Li- for the Mystics — both a lot from both of them. ... Silver, who said the league
coach in NBA G League eberman said. owned by same franchise. I've always had open eyes needed to increase the
and assistant in the NBA — The women garner respect She was only paid about and open ears to anyone number female coaches
learned quickly that build- from players for their ex- $10,000 with the Wizards last who plays this game." and referees in the NBA.
ing relationships was key perience and basketball year because of WNBA sal- The 21-year-old Jackson Along with the record num-
to erasing gender hurdles knowledge. ary cap rules. WNBA teams knows of the women's tal- ber of female assistants,
and opening opportunities Celtics guard Gordon Hay- can only pay all their play- ents because he has wit- five female referees will be
in the league. That, along ward said Lawson, a for- ers a combined $50,000 in nessed them firsthand. And working NBA games this
with an occasional assist mer star at Tennessee and the offseason to supple- he is not alone. The WNBA season.
from forward thinking men in the WNBA, has already ment pay and Washington has been around since Lapchick also believes
like former coach Don Nel- made her presence felt. only had $10,000 left to pay most players were teenag- the NBA will soon have its
son, who in 2009 hired her "She's been good as far Toliver. ers or younger, starting its first female head coach.
as the head coach of the as just the experience she There are no such hiccups first season in 1997. Whether that is Hammon in
Texas Legends, the Dallas has as a basketball play- in New Orleans, where Peli- "As the years go on, they're San Antonio remains to be
Mavericks' G League affili- er," Hayward said. "Read- cans guard Frank Jackson going to get more and seen. But whoever it is, Lap-
ate. ing the game and kind of said he always expected more recognition," said chick said the move would
Several have continued little things she sees coach- to benefit from Cash, a Jackson, in his third year go a long way in putting
Nelson's vision, including ing on the sideline. Having senior executive, and Nai- out of Duke. "Girls can even more women in posi-
San Antonio Spurs Gregg somebody that well-versed smith Hall of Famer Teresa hoop, too. ... I just think as tion to make basketball de-
Popovich, who made Becky in basketball, that experi- Weatherspoon, who was times change, you'll see cisions.
Hammon the NBA's first full- ence is good." recently hired as an assis- more and more." "I'd be surprised if it doesn't
time assistant in 2014; cur- Wizards assistant Kristi Toli- tant this season. Bird joined the front office happen before the next
rent Mavericks' coach Rick ver helped the Washington Cash won two NCAA titles of the Denver Nuggets as season," he said, "or during
Carlisle hired Jenny Boucek Mystics win their first WNBA at Connecticut in 2000 and an operations associate the next season."q