Former WNBA great Becky Hammon is all set to make a significant leap. Hammon is the current head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, who recently won their first-ever championship. After a spectacular season, Hammon will now be part of ESPN?as an NBA studio analyst. Before taking on the role of a head coach in the WNBA, Hammon was the assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs. ESPN broke the news at the Women + Sports Summit on November 2, 2022.
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Becky Hammon has proved to be an excellent coach for the Las Vegas Aces. The WNBA team won their first-ever WNBA title recently under her leadership. The Aces beat the Connecticut Sun 78-71 to grab the 2022 title on September 18, 2022. Aces guard Chelsea Gray became the Finals MVP and Hammon became the first person to win a championship in the very first season as a coach. Hammons made history by also becoming the first full-time female coach in the NBA.
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Hammon began her playing career in 1999 when she joined the New York Liberty. After playing for the Liberty for seven seasons, Hammon then joined the San Antonio Stars in 2007. The Colorado State alum officially retired from the league in 2014.
Becky Hammon went through 14 years of playing and eight years of coaching in her career so far. She will now take her talents to ESPN as a studio analyst for the NBA.
“I am very excited to contribute to ESPN?s coverage of the NBA this season. It will be a lot of fun working alongside ESPN?s talented roster of broadcasters and having the opportunity to talk about the game that I love so much,” said Hammon.
Becky Hammon news baffles NBA fans
At the Summit, Hammon was asked how close the NBA was to hiring its first female head coach. In response, she replied that at times she felt it could happen pretty soon. However, she also said that the organizations might not be too keen on taking risks by making changes in the league.
Becky Hammon, head coach of the reigning WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces, will join ESPN as an NBA studio analyst during the 2022-23 season.
The announcement was made today at the espnW Summit. Hammon will debut on ESPN in December 🏀 #ThatsaW pic.twitter.com/iENNef4IZv
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 2, 2022
After ESPN announced the new development, fans are speculating about her career as the coach. It remains unclear if Hammon will stay as an analyst or will go back to coaching once the season starts again.
Here are some of the reactions from NBA Twitter:
Damn, she's done coaching already????
— Seahawkfan1108 (@Seahawkfan118) November 3, 2022
Uh, the wnba season happens after the nba. She’ll probably still coach after the nba season ends.
— Big 4horry (@B4horry) November 2, 2022
https://twitter.com/MaximumGirth69/status/1587910583948644352?s=20&t=Yfj3IR9WvZR4ojVGRDXDww
I hope she becomes an nba coach soon
— Kai (AVFC) (@11KaptainMorgan) November 2, 2022
She coached the Spurs for a bit while Pop was out and that opened the door for her to coach in the WNBA. She did well as far as I remember.
— Johnny and Tanya main for the next 4 years (@SlickShotzz13) November 2, 2022
Finally the NBA studio actually hiring some talent!!
— B Willy (@B44Willy) November 2, 2022
Great move !!
— Miles Rajander (@MilesRajander) November 3, 2022
Solid gig for the person who deserves to be coaching in the NBA.
— Brian K (@BrianKellar) November 3, 2022
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Earlier, Becky Hammon had spoken out on the Brittney Griner case. Notably, she has been a naturalized Russian citizen for about 15 years, representing the national team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.?
“It was a gut punch,” she said. “There’s so many things that are normal over there that I’m like, ‘It’s not normal.’ … She’s been turned into a political pawn and it’s really unfortunate. The international world really needs to pay attention.”
A Russian court sentenced Griner to nine years in prison in August after she was detained at an international airport in Khimki earlier this year. Despite Griner’s plea hearing, the court did not change its previous decision. The US government has declared Griner’s case as “wrongful detainment”.
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Do you think Becky Hammon has the talent to become an NBA head coach one day? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.