Becky Hammon Inspiring Woman

Becky Hammon Sweetrocks Inspiring Women

Rebecca (Becky) Hammon is an American-Russian professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A three-time All-American basketball player for the Colorado State Rams, Becky went on to play for the San Antonio Stars and New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for several other teams outside the United States. Hammon, who was born and raised in the United States, became a naturalized Russian citizen in 2008 and represented the Russian national team in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Undrafted during her rookie season, Becky was signed to the WNBA on May 12, 1999 and joined the New York Liberty. She had a solid rookie season statistically, backing up starting point guard Teresa Weatherspoon. After the 2003 season, Hammon took over for Weatherspoon as the Liberty’s starting point guard

On April 4, 2007, Hammon was traded to the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars.Hammon posted career high averages of 18.8 ppg (fourth best) and 5.0 apg in 2007. She led the league in assists that year. While in San Antonio, Hammon earned the nickname “Big Shot Becky” because of her ability to make shots in important moments.

Becky was an All-Star as well as a first-team All-WNBA selection. On August 31, 2011, Hammon became the seventh player in WNBA history to score 5,000 points. Hammon retired from the WNBA in 2014. She is a six-time WNBA All-Star.

On August 2, 2015, Hammon was inducted into the Ring of Honor during halftime of the game between the New York Liberty and the Seattle Storm. The Ring of Honor recognizes players who have “made the most significant contributions to the Liberty’s tradition of excellence and to the growth of the WNBA.

On June 25, 2016, the San Antonio Stars retired Hammon’s No. 25 jersey prior to the Atlanta Dream game.

Hammon has been inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and has been selected as ESPN’s Woman of the Year.

Becky had long expressed aspirations of becoming a coach after her playing career ended. On July 13, 2013, Hammon tore her left anterior cruciate ligament. During her year-long rehabilitation, Hammon attended the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs’ practices, coaches’ meetings, and games, where she was frequently invited to contribute opinions.

On August 5, 2014, Hammon was hired as an assistant coach for the Spurs. She became the second female assistant coach and the first female full-time assistant coach in NBA history. Hammon is also the first full-time female assistant coach in any of the four major professional sports in North America. Becky served as the team’s Summer League head coach in 2015; she is the first woman to be a head coach in that league and win the Summer League title. At the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, Becky became the first woman to be part of an All-Star coaching staff.

On December 30, 2020, Hammon became the first female acting head coach in NBA history after Spurs’ head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Thank you Becky Hammon (#BeckyHammon) for being an Inspiring Woman!