(Podcast length 3:50 - transcript is below)
We all know about the great work that female athletes like Serena Williams and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team are doing for women in the sports world, but what about those who are just outside the spotlight? These five women are flying under the radar (sort of) but making things happen on and off the field.
Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We breakdown what's happening in sports in an easy to understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.
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[Transcript]
1. Playing together on the same team for the first time since college are sisters Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks. The two are more than teammates, they’re advocates for the women who make up the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association). They’re women just like us, students, mothers and businesswomen who happen to dominate on the court. Nneka and Chiney, who are leaders of the league’s players association, led the player negotiations that lead to maternity benefits, higher travel standards and increases to player cash compensation and benefits. RAISING THE BAR
2. Move over Jerry Maguire, Nicole Lynn is here. In this year’s NFL Draft (National Football League), Lynn, 30, became the first black woman to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Before the draft, she took to the internet to figure out what other women agents have worn and found no inspiration because only two women have ever represented players in the draft previously. The next in line will have Lynn to look up to. TAKE YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE
3. Becky Hammon is setting the NBA (National Basketball Association) on fire. She’s currently the lead assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs and with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich out, fans are wondering why Hammon isn’t being allowed to step into the head coaching position. The team instead brought in former player Tim Duncan to replace Popovich even though it seems Hammon is doing the work. They might want to watch out because she’s already the first woman ever to interview for an NBA head coaching job and it’s a matter of time until another team hires her to be the boss. SLAM DUNK
4. The NHL (National Hockey League) is walking the walk, living up to their statement that hockey is for everyone. During the Chicago Blackhawks – St. Louis Blues game last year on International Women’s Day, the broadcast and production crew will be made up entirely of women. They’ve also opened up the All-Star NHL skills competition to female hockey players. NOW WE’RE TALKING
5. Soon baseball will no longer be left to the “boys of summer.” Kudos to Justine Siegal who paved the way for so many women when she became the first woman to coach for a Major League Baseball (MLB) organization (Oakland Athletics Fall League, 2015). This year, the San Francisco Giants hired Alyssa Nakken as an assistant coach on their big league roster. Both the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees appointed women to their minor league coaching staff. WHO’S ON FIRST
