Between the Final Four and recent road trips, the If Not For Them team has been busy soaking up the excitement around women’s basketball this spring.
We are still deep in fundraising mode and would love your support as we continue to collect unique perspectives from the men and women that built the game that we love. Here’s a quick summary of who we have been talking to and why we are so positive about the future of this project.
First, we met with Mildred “Millie” Barnes who played a vital role in the 1976 Olympic team’s run to the silver medal before winning two AIAW state championships with the University of Central Missouri.
Then, we caught up with former Kansas Women’s Basketball coach Marian Washington who helped lead West Chester State University to the first national title in women’s basketball. There is so much more to her story beyond those accomplishments and our conversation covered it all!
Sitting down with Kaye Garms and Alice “Cookie” Barron of the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens was another highlight, as they reminisced about the team’s dominant run in the 1950s and how the sport has evolved from there.
Hall of Fame coaches Lin Dunn and Gary Blair were also on the lineup sharing stories from their illustrious careers in the AIAW, NCAA and WNBA. We discussed their own experience with legends of the game. Can you believe it was once illegal for Lin to play basketball in her state? What a rise to become general manager of the Indiana Fever.
Stay tuned to this page for more updates about If Not For Them and follow our new social media accounts too. You can find us on Twitter and Instagram at @IfNotForThem. Longer interviews will still live on our YouTube channel If Not For Them; Brenda VanLengen, Exec Producer.
Thank you for all your support so far. We cannot wait to share what else we have in store!
