Women Who HAVE Changed the Game | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Women Who HAVE Changed the Game

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Ice - as I have written in my posts, I think where a player like Parker has 'changed the game' is not in her specific skill set, but in her skill set in a body size that used to be limited to low post moves and short jumpers, and that was never expected to do 'handle' on the perimeter. It is the same type of change that we see in EDD and that we expect in Stewart. It represent an expansion in perception of what a 'post' sized body can do.
I agree more with Griner in that her size and athleticism are unique and rare at this time - I do think you are going to see more tall girls try to emulate her because she has showed them what is possible, but we will have to wait a number of years to see if they can.
 
I understand, UcM, in the manner you are speaking I don't see Parker as a game changer because a line from Lobo through Jackson (who predates Parker) through Parker and to EDD among others and beyond as evolutionary progress not as a specific game marker as a game changer in the way Maravich changed the nature of the game.
 
Nancy Lieberman

There is a reason they named an award in her honor. If you are not familiar with her accomplishments, please read her wiki bio at the link provided.
 
The obvious answer to this, which I'm surprised no one's come up with so far, is the entire 1995 Husky women's team, including Geno and with Lobo first among equals. CPTV and title IX get supporting actor credit.

It was the 1995 undefeated season, along with the ability to see every game, that produced a spike in interest for watching women play basketball. Lobo's inclusion in the '96 Olympic team, and the controversy that caused, continued the interest. Title IX had primed the pipeline that raised the general level of skill & athleticism available for recruitment in women's sport.

Due to the publicity from the 1995-1996, the WABA was able to get off the ground, with Lobo as the star attraction (deserved or not, that's how she was presented) in the largest market (NYC).

The WABA's ability to garner interest made the NBA think this might be a way to make more money from their stadia during the summer season and birthed the WNBA.

Arguably, but I have no proof, the explosive growth of leagues worldwide can be traced to the same roots.

The existence of a viable career option, with international visibility for female basketball players, I posit, is the largest change in the history of womens' basketball.

The Huskies' continued success and TV exposure continue to support and engender interest in women's BB.
 
Jackie Stiles in College. In many ways the Pete Maravich of Women's basketball. 5'8" and still the only NCAA women's player to score more than 1,000 points in a season, along with being the career leader in points scored.

Who could forget her 41 pt sweet 16 game against Duke, and her bringing Southwest Misouri State to the final four? Game changer? Probably as much as any other Women's basketball player.
 
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Here's a list of WBB-changing candidates for you -- many of whom did these things long before I thought they'd been done.

I think I'll throw my support behind Nancy Lieberman, whose accomplishment list was much longer than I had recalled. The game-changer, as with the discussion of Candace above, was about showing what was possible. The difference is that Nancy really took it a full level (or more) higher than what had been done before, through an extraordinary combination of skill and will. It's evolution, but it's a looong step.

562 steals? 961 assists? 1,167 rebounds. 2,430 points. And that's in 33 games/year, not 39. Wow.
 
How did any of these players change the game? Specifically, how did the game of women's basketball change due to any of these players' efforts from 1970 until the present?
 
Tamika Catchings,for showing young girls that having physical impairments (her hearing disablity)doesn't have to prevent you from doing what you love.
 
lcjeff said:
Tamika Catchings,for showing young girls that having physical impairments (her hearing disablity)doesn't have to prevent you from doing what you love.
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While ont necessarily changing the game itself Catchings is a great role model for kids and should be an inspiration to many.
 
Billy Jean King. She fought for equal rights for women and is a big reason that we have TitleIX was passed, which opened the door for female athletes at the collegiate level.
 
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easttexastrash said:
Billy Jean King. She fought for equal rights for women and is a big reason that we have TitleIX was passed, which opened the door for female athletes at the collegiate level.
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Yes, she had a big impact on WCBB without being an on court person at the time.
 
Very few players have changed the game. Some have played it at a higher level that was played before, but did truly change the game.

Parker changed the game. She demonstrated the value of having a big player being able to handle the ball. In my opinion, she is the biggest game changer ever. EDD is the evolution of Parker but EDD is not changing the game, especially since nobody gets to see her play.

Nancy Leiberman and Cheryl Miller demonstrated an athleticism that opened the door for women to be more athletic on the court.

Taurasi, Bird, and Maya in no way changed the game, other than bringing attention to women's basketball. They played at a high level but didn't have an impact on HOW the game is played. Who knows if Griner will have changed the game. She changes the games she is in and will affect women's basketball game for years, but as far as having a long term impact on the women's game, I don't think she will. We simply will not see a rush of 6-8 players who can dunk.
 
Shouldn't we get away from talking about Griner and dunking at this point? When was the last time she dunked in a a game anyway?
 
DishNSwish said:
Shouldn't we get away from talking about Griner and dunking at this point? When was the last time she dunked in a a game anyway?
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Whether she is doing it or not, she can and it will always be discussed. But I don't see that it "changes the game." It is a very unique thing that is limited to Griner at this point.

I think that Mulkey has pulled the plug on dunking during games. I doubt that you will see it again in her college career unless she has a break-away. It simply doesn't benefit the team. I think that the attempted dunk against TAMU in the Elite Eight last year was her last attempt.
 
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