WNBA's Best: 5 Players working in prominent NBA roles

One simple way to mark real progress in the league is to appoint talented women at positions of authority. It's important for basketball, business and society itself, in ways beyond our imagination, to have women in positions of power.

The NBA has been widely acclaimed to be open to equality and has made considerable efforts in the fields of social issues concerning diversity. But at the same time, it moves hand-in-hand with a stained legacy when it comes to females. Recent scandals pertaining to sexual harassment and improper workplace conduct pushed them further back on this scale.

The resurgence mission is underway though. The league has already planned workshops in Atlanta and Los Angeles in mid-November on the diversity and inclusion efforts, and things look a bit brighter now.

Sue Bird was recently appointed the Basketball Operations Associate by the Denver Nuggets and this seems like an apt time to look into some of the women who are spearheading the front. So, let's get to it.

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#1 Becky Hammon - Spurs Assistant Coach

Becky Hammon went undrafted during her rookie season.

Hammon started her coaching career in 2014 when she was hired as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, making her only the second female coach in NBA history.

In June of 2018, Becky Hammon was promoted by the Spurs to fill the spot vacated by James Borrego on the team’s roster of assistant coaches. Hammon had till then, been among the assistants that sat just behind the Spurs bench, but this move meant she would be in the front row sitting alongside Popovich in the ongoing season.

A 6-time WNBA All-Star and the 2007 WNBA assists leader, Hammon's valuable contribution made an impression on Pop, who has repeatedly vouched for the inclusion of more women in the coaching domain.

“I think there just has to be more, more of the same,” said Popovich. “There are more Beckys out there, they just have to be noticed and given the opportunity by people who are wise enough and courageous enough to do it and not just sit in the old paradigm.”

Becky is one of the very few to have their jersey (#25) retired by the San Antonio Spurs. She was included in the WNBA's Top 15 players of the all-time list in 2011.

#2 Ruth Riley Hunter - Heat TV Studio & Radio Analyst

Ruth Riley Hunter was a WNBA first-round pick of the Miami Sol in 2001.

When the Miami Heat organization offered Ruth the position to serve as the team's radio analyst for home games and studio analyst for road television broadcasts in October, it was more or less a homecoming for her.

Miami is where she started her professional basketball career when she started playing for the Miami Sol. Though that stint didn't last long, it did leave an everlasting feeling of home in Miami for Ruth. She played in the WNBA for 13 seasons, the most recent one being in 2013.

According to Heat's Executive Vice President, she aced all her auditions to become the franchise's first female analyst in 31 seasons. Following her recruitment, there came an announcement from Adam Silver asking for increased hiring of women across the league. The significance of her inclusion into the Heat family was appreciated overwhelmingly.

''It's no longer a story to hire a woman,'' Riley Hunter said. ''It's the perspective and value and experience that matters.''

#3 Kristi Toliver - Wizards Assistant Coach

Kristi Toliver became the first active WNBA player to join NBA coaching staff.

When the Wizards announced that Washington Mystics guard Kristi Toliver would join the team’s staff as an assistant coach for player development, it was 'the opportunity of a lifetime' for her (in her own words).

Prior to this appointment, Kristi had been spending time as a coaching intern for the Wizards during the preseason after leading the Mystics to the franchise's first WNBA Finals last season.

With the WNBA season due to begin by mid-May, she has ample time at her disposal to learn and grow with a respectable organization, while still being under an active WNBA contract. She has expressed her desire to become an NBA coach in the future and follow in the footsteps of veterans such as Nancy Lieberman and Becky Hammon.

Being a former WNBA Champion (2016), she knows what it takes to bridge the gap between good and great. She debuted as the first female coach in the Wizards’ 58 seasons when Wizards played their first of the game is the season in October.

#4 Tamika Catchings - Pacers Director of Player Programs & Franchise Development

Tamika Catchings was a WNBA champion in 2012 with the Indiana Fever.

After leading an illustrious career with the Indian Fever, laced with a WNBA Championship (2012), a Finals MVP (2012) and a regular season MVP (2011) award, Tamika Catchings has made sure to keep herself busy since ending her glorious playing days.

By being offered the position of Pacers Sports and Entertainment’s Director of Franchise Development, she got the opportunity to work towards to the growth of three franchises: the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, the Fever and the G-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

A former 10-time WNBA All-Star herself, Tamika has always stayed positive regarding the future of the Fever. In her current role, she encourages players to take part in professional opportunities, like higher profile community service or broadcasting, as they have limited time at their hands.

She assists currently active players in post-playing skills, community outreach programs and basic communication/presentation skills, somethings that come handy once a player hangs up his boots.

#5 Sue Bird - Nuggets Basketball Operations Associate

Suzanne Brigit Bird is an American-Israeli professional basketball player.

This is the most recent appointment that comes to mind, courtesy of the Denver Nuggets front-office.

WNBA champion from the most recent season, Sue Bird, will join the Denver Nuggets as a basketball operations associate. Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has confidence in Sue Bird's exquisite resume and believes that 'as a still active player, she will offer an extremely unique perspective.'

To begin with, she's a 3-time WNBA champion and an 11-time WNBA All-Star (all with the Seattle Storm), catapulting herself of the No. 1 overall pick in 2002 WNBA draft.

“I’m really excited to join the Denver Nuggets organization. I’m thankful for the opportunity and look forward to learning from some of the best,” said Bird.

Bird currently ranks first in the WNBA in career minutes played (16,173), career games (508), and assists (2,831). She is also third in points (6,154) and three-pointers made (855), and fifth in steals (652), and is a member of the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All-time list.