A Colorado State Grad Is Making Pro Basketball History

Women's basketball is FINALLY getting the love and recognition it deserves.

WNBA Viewership Reaches Record-Breaking 54 Million Viewers

Players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are helping to bring unprecedented eyes on the game. The 2024 WNBA season was the most watched season in program history, according to an official release from the league. 

These games attracted an "all-time record of more than 54 million unique viewers across ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ION and NBA TV."

Not too shabby, right?

Everyone watches women's sports, its just that the rest of the world is catching up.

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I followed women's college hoops when I was a student, but unfortunately fell off when I graduated. Just like millions of fans, Caitlin Clark peaked my interest in the sport and helped turn me into a fan of the WNBA.

One of the WNBA’s Top Coaches Came from Colorado State

Only hardcore fans of women's basketball know that one of the most important and recognizable figures in the league is a Colorado State University alumnus.

READ MORE: Colorado State's New Basketball Coach Speaks for First Time

Las Vegas Aces Are Dominating the League with Back-to-Back Titles

For the past few WNBA seasons, the Las Vegas Aces have been sort of running the show. Not only did the team win back-to-back championships, but they also have the league MVP and multi-Olympic goal medal winner A'ja Wilson on their roster.

Any sports fan knows that the success of a team is dependent on its coaching staff. The Aces seem to have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to their off-court leadership.

Meet Becky Hammon The WNBA Coach & Former CSU Player Who Keeps Making History

One of the most talked about teams in the league just so happens to be coached by one of the most decorated CSU basketball stars, Becky Hammon.

Becky Hammon Took the Aces to the Top in Just Nine Months

Hammon is the current Head Coach for the Aces. She stepped into the position back in 2021. Just nine months later, the CSU alum helped cinch the league's first WNBA championship, according to the team's website.

And the team ran it back again the next year, and became the first team to claim back-to-back WNBA titles in decades.

Becky Hammon Made CSU Basketball History in the Late ’90s

Not only has she proven herself to be successful as a coach, she's got a track record as being one of the best ballers in the country.

The South Dakota native played for the Colorado State Rams during the 1996 and 1999 seasons.

During her time playing college hoops, Hammon won four conference player of the week awards, four first-team All-Conference awards and an Associated Press first-team All-American award in 1999, according to her official CSU bio.

This dynamic player held the school career record for points, field goals, points per game, free throws made, 3-pointers, steals and assists when she graduated in the late '90s.

She is considered the most decorated CSU women’s basketball player in school history.

Becky Hammon Played 16 Seasons and Scored 3,000 Points in the WNBA

After graduation, Hammon went on to play in the WNBA for sixteen seasons. She became a key player for both the New York Liberty and the San Antonio Silver Stars (later becoming the Las Vegas Aces).

"Big Shot Becky" scored 3,000 career points in the WNBA and had 800 assists, according to reports.

Becky Hammon Made History as the First Female NBA Coach

After retiring from the court, she went on to make history with the San Antonio Spurs as the first woman to coach in the NBA full-time. Hammon went on to become the first woman to serve as head coach in the league in 2020, according to ESPN.

Can you believe an absolute legend like Becky Hammon once called Colorado home?

She continues to make everyone in NoCo very proud!

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