Becky Hammon Hall of Fame
Becky Hammon is a two-time Olympian, six-time WNBA All-Star and one of the top 15 players in WNBA history. But she is more than a basketball legend; she is an inspiration, and a trailblazer.
Hammon’s career began with breaking records at Colorado State University and she went on to play 16 seasons in the WNBA. During her career she has won 14 conference player of the week awards, four first-team All-Conference awards and an Associated Press first-team All-American award.
She also had a stellar international career playing overseas with Trentino Rovereto Basket, Rivas Ecopolis, Ros Casares Valencia and CSKA Moskva. She was a member of the Russian national team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and was a part of a successful Russian women’s team that made it to the quarterfinals of the 2007 World Cup and the final of the 2010 European Championship.
After her WNBA career, Hammon became the first woman to work as an assistant coach in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich. She was later named head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, making her the first rookie WNBA coach to win a league title.
On her journey to the NBA, Hammon uncovered critical leadership lessons and pushed herself to be the best she could be. She now shares these lessons in her keynote speeches and moderated conversations to inspire others to pursue their dreams relentlessly, stand up for what they believe in, and be the best they can be.
In addition to her WNBA coaching experience, Hammon has been an analyst for ESPN and is featured on the network’s popular NBA shows. Her perspectives offer a unique look into the WNBA, and she is an inspirational speaker for corporate and educational audiences.
She is a member of the Sports Illustrated “Unrelenting List,” the most powerful, influential, and outstanding women in sports right now, and she has been named to The W25, a list of 25 influential women in the WNBA. Her success and contributions to the sport are a legacy for her entire family, as she is the oldest of three children.
Her path to the NBA started in Rapid City, South Dakota where she broke every record at Stevens High School before being recruited to Colorado State. She starred for the Rams from 1996-99, earning Western Athletic Conference player of the year honors twice and being elected into the CSU Sports Hall of Fame.
While in college, she played abroad, joining several Italian teams before eventually settling in Moscow where she had an international career that included four stints with CSKA Moskva and one with Ros Casares Valencia. She also earned Russian citizenship, playing for the country at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
When she was injured in 2013, she unofficially worked as an intern for the Spurs. She attended practices and film sessions, and stayed in close contact with the team while she was recovering from her injury.
When Ron Riherd, her former boys coach at Stevens, got a job as an assistant coach with the Spurs, he reached out to Hammon and asked her if she could come watch his games. She embraced the idea, and they have been friends ever since.
