Title
Celebrating Lindsey Harding for Her Historic Appointment as the First Woman to Coach for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Body
WHEREAS, Representation of women among the National Basketball Association’s coaching staff is strikingly low, with only seven female coaches in the history of the NBA; and
WHEREAS, During the past several years, NBA teams have begun to recognize the expertise and untapped value of women basketball talent in the United States. Starting with Becky Hammon’s appointment as San Antonio Spurs assistant coach in 2014, and Nancy Lieberman’s appointment as the Sacramento Kings assistant coach in 2015, slowly but surely, doors are opening for the advancement of women in the coaching ranks of the league; and
WHEREAS, On April 9, 2019, Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Elton Brand continued this trend by announcing that the team would promote Lindsey Harding to become Player Development Coach, making her the first-ever female hire on the team’s coaching staff. In her new role, Harding will be responsible for monitoring and developing players’ unique skill sets while also executing an off-court player development program; and
WHEREAS, Harding previously served as a pro personnel scout for the 76ers, observing talent at games around the country and the world; and
WHEREAS, Harding is herself a decorated basketball star, having played NCAA basketball at Duke University, where she was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team. She graduated Duke as the sixth player in ACC history to register 1,000 points, 500 assists, 500 rebounds, and 250 steals, leading Duke to honor her by retiring her jersey number; and
WHEREAS, Harding received the Nancy Lieberman Award in 2007 for being the nation’s top female point guard in NCAA Division I basketball. Harding was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft and went on to play nine seasons in the WNBA, as well as for seven European teams; and
WHEREAS, Harding is known by her peers and colleagues to be knowledgeable, passionate, and driven. As the second-ever black woman coach for the NBA, Lindsey Harding is a role model to girls and women throughout the world. She is knocking down walls of inequality, and changing the way society perceives the role of women in sports and beyond; now therefore be it
RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby celebrate Lindsey Harding for her historic appointment as the first woman to coach for the Philadelphia 76ers.
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