Women Who HAVE Changed the Game

[psconn]

As I was getting up from the floor after reading that Sammy P was a candidate to "change the game" of WBB I started thinking about what players could REALLY be considered "game changers". Probably VERY few.

I'd love to heard what you guys think on this. Who and most importantly why. These are not just great players they have to have made a game changing impact on the sport. Let me throw one out there...

Rebecca Lobo - her rise to national prominence culminating with the '95 NC perfect season and defeat of the LV definitely had a huge impact on the game's visibility on the national sports scene.

Anyone else have a candidate? Miller?, Leslie? maybe, maybe not....

 

[Sakibomb25]

I think Leslie. Regardless of what you think of her, she was a dominant center who gave the game a lot of visibility during the Olympics and WNBA.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

All dislike aside, Parker showed extreme versatility for her height and through young players watching probably has had an impact on expectations and style of play.

Lobo, absolutely. Unfortunately, the early stars like Miller, Donovan, Meyers, et al (none of whom I saw play) may have made an impact on the way the game is played, but not on the popularity / visibility of the sport, because unfortunately, they weren't visible "in the day".

 

[cardfan]

Azzi

 

[MarieM]

taurasi

 

[Coler]

Sheryl Swoopes

 

[alexrgct]

This is a really tough subject to define. Someone like Chamique Holdsclaw was undeniably one of the all-time greats at the collegiate level, but probably doesn't fit into the "change the game" category. Meanwhile Skylar Diggins, who with all due respect isn't anywhere near the player Chamique was, is someone far more "known" to the average person off the street.

So what's the operational definition of "change the game" player? Some nebulous combination of "was demonstrably really good at some level of the sport" and "for various reasons, resonated sufficiently with the American sports consciousness that the average person who doesn't watch WBB is/was aware of who she is"? These questions aren't critical of the OP, as it's an interesting question. Just want to define the terms.

Using my suggested criteria, I'd say Cheryl Miller absolutely (though some of her recognizability has to do with her brother and her work on TNT), Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, Maya Moore, and maybe Sheryl Swoopes. Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins have a chance to be in that group too. Conversely, I don't think the average sports fan who doesn't give a flip about WBB has spent a moment thinking about Cynthia Cooper, Holdsclaw, Staley, Weatherspoon, Catchings, or Tina Charles.

Have to be both lucky and good to resonate.

 

[ghostmutt]

Unfortunately, the early stars like Miller, Donovan, Meyers, et al (none of whom I saw play) may have made an impact on the way the game is played, but not on the popularity / visibility of the sport, because unfortunately, they weren't visible "in the day".

I disagree about Miller. If you watch the ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary about Reggie Miller vs. the Knicks, Cheryl was definitely visible to NBA fans, even if her talents were only recognized as a way to taunt Reggie about not being as good. Hard to imagine anyone today chanting "Caaan-daaace" at Anthony Parker.

Cheryl also played at a time when feminism was at the forefront of cultural debate, pre-backlash, pre-"feminazis," etc. Besides the family connection, that might be why she was able to crossover and cover the men's pro game as a sideline reporter, as few women have done. (That is, few women who aren't eye candy like Erin Andrews.) I was too young to see her play and on the wrong coast, but based on the video evidence, she is one of the old school players who would still dominate today. No question, Cheryl is one who changed the game, arguably the #1 player who changed the game.

 

[VAMike23]

Lieberman?
Miller
Swoopes
Leslie
Griner (just sayin')
maybe Lobo

This is not my 'greatest ever' list. Just game changers. I'm unfortunately not familiar enough with Meyers and Donovan to say if they belong are not, though they are both legends obviously

 

[MilfordHusky]

I'm not quite sure what we mean by "game-changer," but Maya Moore clearly was one.

First, she won 150 games out of 154. That is ridiculous. The Globetrotters barely did this.

Second, she played more like a guy (in a good way) than any female I have ever seen. I would rate Holdsclaw second in this category. High elevation and classic form on a jump shot. No one was better than this:

She also had more athleticism routinely than anyone else. I am still looking for someone else (other than Dr. J) to do this:

In short, Maya had the potential for several Sports Center highlights every time she went on the floor.

Third, while consistently being the most talented player on the court, she was also the hardest worker. She was almost never out of a play. She made "hustle" an art form.

Fourth, Maya was a rare combination of confident and humble. She embodied all that is good about sports and, more broadly, humanity. She set the bar for athletes and nonathletes alike to "be like Maya."

 

[alexrgct]

And five, because of the streak and the incidious ESPN conspiracy to promote UConn and denigrate other high-profile WCBB programs, she's someone a lot of non-WBB fans can name.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Alex - I had the same question you had: what do we mean by game changer? (And does it have to be a player?)

1) How the game is played -- as in, redefining the position: So, a back to the basket game now includes a Lauren Jackson who nails threes - who started that trend? Or, a point guard was not just a distributor, but expected to score.

2) How the game is recognized outside by folks outside the die hard fan base. Miller, Holdsclaw, Lobo, Taurasi, Parker, Diggins -- Azzi had her obsessed folks and, if I remember "In these girls hope is a muscle," Wideman garnered huge west coast/east coast attention with her recruitment out of high school.

 

[pap49cba]

Does this woman qualify????

 

[HuskyNan]

Sheryl Swoopes

+1

 

[UcMiami]

Wow - tough Question! I have to defer on the early folks and may leave out some, but if you say 'game changer' I think of someone that changes the perception of women's BB generally, or of a position specifically:
1. Lobo/Jackson/EDD - taking a player with Center hight and moving them out as far as the three point line. (See the next for more EDD)
2. Parker/EDD - Add not only range, but 'handle' to a center/PF body size. (Stewart a part of this progression?)
3. Griner - ability to dunk 'effortlessly' - extreme height with athleticism.
4. Miller/DT/(Maya?) - comparison to male athleticism in the sport.
5. Lieberman/Miller/Swoopes/Leslie/Catchings/Bird/DT/Parker/Maya/(Diggins?) - career/publicity/name recognition
6. Summitt/Geno/Lieberman/(Donovan?)/(Vanderveer?)/ESPN/(CPTV?) - awareness as non-players.

I am sure I have left out a number of great players in some of these categories - I do focus mostly on Uconn in my basketball viewing.

Interesting to think about Men's Basketball in the same light and looking for comparisons. The one male 'exception' that I do not find a female comparison to is Magic - an oversized point gaurd who could and did play center for a NBA team.

 

[stwainfan]

Cheryl Miller, Candace Parker, Sheryl Swoopes, Diana Taurasi, Lisa Leslie. Britney Griner.

 

[Icebear]

No individual changes the game. They can show the way but if others with similar skills, commitment and effort don't emerge the game remains unchanged.

 

[pap49cba]

Dee Kantner and Bonita Spence

 

[psconn]

Dee Kantner and Bonita Spence

PERFECT! But they change GAMES, not THE GAME.

 

[psconn]

For those that just threw names out, I'm more curious at WHY you believe they changed the game. I considered just about all of the name that have come up except Tina Charles... she has NOT changed the game at all as far as I can see, despite her awesomeness.
I also don't believe Sue Bird has changed the game despite the fact that she is arguably the best ever at her position (unless you count the $$$ changes that resulted from her time with Spartak along with D and others).

 

[psconn]

Still waiting for someone to suggest Sam Prahalis...

 

[Bestiarius]

No one person permanently changes the game. some temporarily change it. At the top of the list is Griner. No past player owns inside the foul line more than Griner. I'm confident that coaches have spent more time trying to defeat her defensive talent than any other player. To date, no one has succeeded. she makes every team change the way they play.

 

[cardfan]

Dee Kantner and Bonita Spence

and Sally Bell, can't forget about her.

 

[AboutWeston]

Dee Kantner and Bonita Spence

Perfecto!

 

[DaddyChoc]

Parker.. if she wasnt injuried so often and took time out to have her child