Honoring the heritage of former African basketball players, celebrating the growth of the game, and teaching, equipping and inspiring the next generation.

Legends like Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, and Manute Bol overcame incredible obstacles of hunger, poverty, disease and lack of basketball infrastructure to create the first path to the NBA from the continent of Africa. That initial path was very narrow, only wide enough for their tall, lanky frames to forge through. Olajuwon was the first African player to be drafted to the NBA 31 years ago! Perhaps Dikembe was blessed with his 7’2” stature, not just to entertain us with his patented “finger wag” after blocking opponent’s shots, but rather because he was destined to be a trailblazing beacon of light for an entire continent of aspiring athletes to follow. These three foundational players took the initial question of “possibility” and turned it into a conversation about something tangible and concrete. What started with a very rugged, unmarked path has widened to a road that 63 NBA players have traveled down . . . and counting.

With a vision to grow the game, the NBA, in partnership with FIBA, started global camps called Basketball without Borders (BWB) in 2001. These camps are development and community outreach programs that unite young basketball players to promote the sport and encourage positive social change in the areas of education, health, and wellness. In the last 13 years BWB has worked with over 1,000 campers from 31 African countries, with 8 players being drafted into the NBA. The impact has transcended beyond these select few athletes, largely due to the power of partnerships and the commitment to scalability within each country by their Federations. These countries have realized that while there may be an endless pool of interest, potential and talent, there still has to be a system and infrastructure in place to cultivate and grow the game. Courts must continue to be built, coaches must be trained, and grassroots programs must be developed.

There are skeptics who challenge why basketball matters in the developing world where many problems are life-threatening, and sports could seem like a luxury. My answer is simple: it is an empowering mechanism for change. Aside from the pure health benefits and positive character developments like perseverance, teamwork and confidence, sports also provide a much-needed spark of hope. This new generation is desperately seeking a catalyst for change that resonates with them on a personal level. Kids may no longer listen to a generic message of HIV prevention because it has become redundant, but when it is incorporated through the fun and interactive activities of our partners at Hoops for Hope as life skills, it becomes more meaningful.

Speaking specifically about my ladies now, when the girls see their teams are awarded the same opportunities as the boy’s teams in the BWB Camps and with the Jr. NBA program, a flicker of confidence and self-esteem is ignited. They start to insert themselves into a world where girls historically have been dismissed. Although I have no doubt the WNBA will see an increase of African players in the years to come, the reality is that those numbers will still be relatively small. An Oppenheimer study found that 82% of women in executive-level jobs played organized sports growing up. It is my hope that because of the positive experience they have in sports, we see these young women start to aspire to be a generation of leaders on a continent where women in leadership positions are still an anomaly.

This first NBA game in Africa will go down in the history books, not because of its championship implications, but because it is an emblem of the progress that has been made and the hope of what is yet to come. There was so much emotion and excitement in the air as Team Africa took the court vs. Team World. Although all of the African players had their native flags sewn on their jerseys as a symbol of their heritage and acknowledgement of where their journey began, it was obvious that they were all united by their innate sense of responsibility and pride in representing their “motherland.” For the fans, the game was a platform of accreditation and a sign of appreciation for their passionate support of the game of basketball. It was powerful to have the past, present and future of basketball in Africa in the same arena as Dikembe and Hakeem, who made cameo appearances in the game, played alongside our current NBA players, with the young BWB campers mesmerized by the athletes’ every move.

Not only has a continent, once considered an outlier, solidified its place in the world of basketball, we have also seen that single, rugged trail the first NBA players blazed now be paved and widened to accommodate a generation of talented, young athletes! The final destination of that path is not just the NBA. It is a world where leaders are cultivated, equality is more visible, and social changes are championed!

Looking over the audience at the Junior Chamber International (JCI) World Congress this past weekend in Leipzig, Germany, brought back fond memories of my experiences at the 2004 Olympics. It reminded me of the opening ceremonies, where the beauty and diversity that exists in our world was highlighted by the amazing culmination of countries, cultures, ages and races.

For those not familiar with JCI, it is a non-profit of young, active citizens who are taking action to provide sustainable solutions in more than 100 countries around the world. I was incredibly humbled to be honored as one of their Top Outstanding Young Persons of the World in the category of Humanitarian and or Voluntary Leadership.

In the sports, as a society, we love to idolize the “superstar.” If you ask any coach, or purist of the game, they would tell you that the winning shot does not happen without the rest of the team members playing their role. They are the ones who create space on the court, set the screen, and deliver the ball at the right time, and these “thankless jobs” are incredibly important to the overall success of the team.

I think that concept is evident in our daily lives as well. Take the UN Foundation’s NothingButNets campaign, which I have been a spokeswoman for on behalf of NBA/WNBA Cares since it’s inception in 2006. We would not have had the opportunity to take Stephen Curry to Tanzania a few years ago to help distribute nets if organizations like JCI wasn’t mobilizing people around the world to partner with the campaign. They participate in the BUZZ Tour, advocate on Capital Hill for funding, and just this past weekend I stopped by the NBN 3×3 tournament that JCI Turkey was hosting for the World Congress. The most amazing thing is that NBN is only one of thousands of causes that JCI rally behind globally. It has been very inspiring and encouraging to witness the incredible impact that JCI members are making!

While I am humbled that people admire my achievements and those of my fellow nominees, I hope that everyone can take a moment to recognize and celebrate the uniqueness and greatness that lies within each of you. I love the quote by Gandhi: “Be the Change you want to see in the World.” Our society so often portrays this impossible image that we should strive to live up to. Gandhi truly celebrated the potential that lies within each of us.

I believe our actions should inspire others, not to be like us, but rather to look within themselves and seek out their own unique purpose in life. Each day we are given a virtual pen and paper and how we live out those 24 hours, the time that we invest, the love that we share, the encouragement and resources we provide will inevitably dictate the story of our lives.

Starting in 2012, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been named #GivingTuesday. Seeing an opportunity to channel the generous spirit of the holiday season to inspire action around charitable giving, 92nd Street Y and the UN Foundation came together to find ways to promote and celebrate the great human tradition of giving. So as you contemplate your purpose, seek out a charity that you are passionate about and spread a little holiday love this season!!!

Success in life is never an individual accomplishment—it is always a culmination of those who inspire you to chase your dreams, encourage you along the long road of achievement, and who impart the necessary knowledge.  There are also those who give you the physical tools, who grant you the opportunity, and last but not least those who work along side you every day in pursuit of mutual goals. What started in the 4^th grade with a little orange ball, a lot of height, a tad bit of coordination, and a huge dream of playing in the Olympics has transpired to an amazing journey from Macy, Indiana to some of the greatest stages professional basketball has to offer.

While I have cherished every moment of preparation and competition that this game I love has allotted me, my life as a professional athlete has always been about something greater than the sport itself—it is the bond that I built with my teammates, the experiences of living in foreign countries, and the platform to make a meaningful contribution to this World.  As I think back over all my years playing basketball, I see the faces of my teammates, hear the voices of my coaches (some louder than others), feel the love and encouragement of my family, friends and fans, and I am consumed with gratitude. Reflecting over my career, my mind wonders back to the summer of 1997, I was sitting in my living room in our little farmhouse outside of Macy, IN, watching the inaugural game of the WNBA.  About to head off to Notre Dame for my freshman season, my class was unique in the sense that we were the first class to enter college knowing there was the opportunity to play in the WNBA after we graduated.

If I had to come up with one word to describe my entire career, it would be “blessed.”  On that initial trip from South Bend to South Beach, there was no way I could have scripted how the next 13 years would unfold.  It is impossible for me to thank everyone personally, but I will do my best to try. There is a sisterhood that is organically created when you go through the grind of a professional season. It is this unique intersection of collective expectations and goals, met by the constant preparation and competition, all lived out through this inevitable rollercoaster of successes and failures.  To all my teammates here in the WNBA and around the world, I am so grateful for the opportunity to not only battle along side of you on the court, but to also share this season of life with you.

I recognize that I was never the most athletic player on the floor, so I relied on my work ethic, skill development and understanding of the game—and for that I want to say thank you to all the coaches who helped shape and influence my growth as a player!  One of the first things people notice when attending a WNBA game, besides the incredible talent of our players, is how unbelievably passionate our fans are!  Whether you have cheered for me or against me over the years, I applaud your dedication to our sport! From my high school days, to Notre Dame, to every team I have played for in the WNBA–I have received such amazing support from men, women and families, and for that I am truly grateful.

My rookie year, I remember driving to American Airlines Arena and I was amazed that they had a special parking spot with my name on it.  I quickly learned that there was more than one “Riley” with the organization and one that drove a much nicer car than me, but as the president of our team, Pat and the Miami Sol set the bar for what would eventually be a list of great organizations for which I would have had the pleasure of playing.  Starting with David Stern’s vision,  Adam Silver’s continued commitment, and the leadership of Val, Donna and now Laurel, I have to say that ALL the men and women who work in the league office are truly the best in the business! To all our WNBA Chaplains who have helped me stay grounded in my faith throughout the chaotic schedule of our season, I am very grateful!!  I would be remiss to not thank all the officials for not fouling me out of every game I played, I am sure you will miss holding up the 00 to the scorer’s table! 🙂

Lastly, I want to thank those who have been supporting me the longest, and that is my family!  While my brother has been my sounding board and my toughest 1 on 1 competition and my sister has been my constant source of support and encouragement, it has been my mom who has impacted my career the most.  At a young age, she deposited within me the ability to dream big, and her unwavering belief gave me the confidence to focus on my vision.  Through tremendous personal sacrifices, she always found a way to give me the necessary provision to chase after my dreams, and each and every day she modeled the level of work ethic that would eventually be the leading characteristic of my success.

More than the championships and the accolades I have received over the years, I hope that my career helped impact the sustainability and growth of our league as the 1^st Vice-president of our players union.  I hope that my support, friendship and mentorship have been an encouragement to the players I have played with, and last but not least, I hope that every city in which I have played knew that I truly cared about not just our fans, but the community as a whole.

Retirement just does not seem to be the appropriate word to use at the age of 34, because I am not getting out of the game, just changing my association to it.  I am excited to take on a new role as a NBA/WNBA Cares Ambassador, continuing to globally utilize the platform of our sport to address important social issues.  For the first time since elementary school, I will be a student and not a student-athlete.  I am looking forward to heading back to grad school at Notre Dame, where I will be starting their Executive MBA program this fall!

In high school, I ran the relay in track, and right before you were going to pass off the baton, you would yell “stick” so the person in front of you would know to reach back to grab it.  Grateful for the race I have run, I now yell, “stick” and look forward to passing the baton on and cheering on the next generation as they continue to build upon the progress of the first 17 years of the WNBA!  For all this game of basketball has given me, I humbly and gratefully sign off by saying “thank you” in the language of every country I have been blessed to play this game in!  Gracias, Xièxiè, Paldies, Ευχαριστώ, 감사합니다, and Dziękuję

At first glance, my height, skin color, and even my accent screams a foreigner has come to the Nkomazi region of South Africa near the Swaziland border—yet my 4th trip back to this area ensures that I am not greeted as another Umfati Wemlungu (white woman), but rather I am embraced as a coach, sister and friend. This last installment of my African blog is about the most fulfilling part of my trip. Traveling to this remote region in 2006 helped ignite the passion for my humanitarian work. It was then that I learned about all the multi-faceted challenges that my friends faced every day of their lives because they were born in a place where the unemployment rates, HIV prevalence, and poverty levels rank amongst the highest in the world.

When involved in any grassroots effort the key to success is sustainability. I remember coming home from the first trip feeling an enormous ache in my heart to help, coupled with this sense of overwhelming inadequacy of not knowing where to begin. I knew I could not solve their problems myself, but what I could do was be a consistent force helping them move in the right direction. One of the most glaring needs I recognized was that there was a complete void of leadership within their community. Everyone was in survival mode, and therefore they were completely focused on how they personally were going to make it to tomorrow, with little forethought as to how to create a better future. Without someone to inspire and guide them in a different direction, the community was stuck in this hopeless cycle of desperation.

Now I want to introduce you to three amazing young men: Zola, Sabelo, and Scratch. Known as some of the best basketball players in the region, they were participants in my first ever skills camp over six years ago. As some of the older players in the area, they were required to perform the dual duty of coaching and playing. Zola has recently decided to sacrifice his love for playing and in turn spends all of his time investing in the younger generations. He (with the help of his friends) are organizing thirteen and under teams for both girls and boys at the local elementary schools. They spend every afternoon teaching them not only basketball, but most importantly life skills. These men are putting Gandhi’s words to action as they are trying to “be the change they wished to see in their communities.” This time my flight home invoked a few different emotions than my first trip. Yes, I was once again extremely passionate about doing what I can to help, but instead of being overwhelmed by the complex problems, I had a sense of hope. For the first time, this community has young men who are willing to lead, and that is the initial step of making progress sustainable!!

Here is a video of the work we were doing!

This past month I have witnessed yet again just how powerful the platform of sports is as I traveled throughout South Africa and Namibia conducting clinics for various ages and using basketball as an avenue to teach valuable life lessons and build communities. In order to more accurately depict my experiences, I am going to break my travels into a 3 part series. The first section will be my time spent with our NBA personal over in South Africa, followed by my travels throughout Namibia, and lastly with the small NGO that I have worked with back in South Africa near the Swaziland border.

Upon landing in Johannesburg, where the NBA Africa office is headquartered, I was quickly brought up to speed on the “State of Basketball in Africa” especially in regards to South Africa and Namibia. Three things impressed me about how the sport has progressed since my last visit in 2009. First, I was encouraged to hear that the NBA games are now being aired on an ordinary national TV station, making it more accessible to the average population in South Africa. It is a country that joins the rest of the world in their love for football (soccer), add to that an infatuation with rugby and cricket, and basketball naturally takes a back seat in their sports realm. Having games on TV raises the awareness for the game that leads to an increase in participation, which brings me to my second point: the increase in organized leagues, especially for the youth. The growth of any sport has to be done organically and with a huge emphasis on grassroots development. Providing more structured leagues for children to play in at an elementary level will translate to better high school players, more competitive national teams and most importantly a greater pool of the population to become coaches and invest back in the next generation.

My final notable observance was the extraordinary increase in the number of young girls now playing basketball! The globalization of women’s basketball is quite fascinating to me, and South Africa holds a truly unique chapter in that book. Since the invention by Naismith in 1891, American women went from playing 3-on-3 in bloomers to the universal game, uniform and rules we know today in the WNBA. The South African Basketball Federation, on the other hand, was not even established until 1953, a time when the country was torn apart by Apartheid. During this period, women were encouraged to play in the similar, yet very different sport of netball, and even then it was limited to “whites only” excluding a majority of the population. Nelson Mandela utilized the platform of sport to unite the country during the 1995 Rugby World Cup and since then opportunities and equality have been on an upward journey.

One thing I love about Basketball Without Borders and the NBA’s dedication to the grassroots development of the game of basketball is that girls are included in their vision! Our two-hour drive took us outside the metropolitan district of Jo-berg, passed the platinum mines to a beautiful outdoor court where I was greeted by an entire group of young, energetic girls ready to participate in our skills clinic. Historically my time in South Africa has been working with only the boys and maybe a girl or two speckled in, so I could barely believe my eyes when I saw an entire court filled with the Platinum All-Stars of the Royal Bafokeng National, the select girls from the north region!!

Like many of the girls attending, Elri Liebenberg, has only been playing basketball for a few months because previously netball was her only option. At 6’8” she played the “goal shooter” position her whole life, so shifting over to basketball she already has a naturally good shooting form. Had she been born in the States, she would have been groomed since elementary school, filtered through the AAU system as she grew up, and by now be getting scholarship opportunities from every major university, but instead she was raised playing netball, started playing basketball at the age of 16 where scored 42 points in her first game, and can still potentially get a scholarship to play but it will be a much longer journey for her to get there.

I am not discrediting the kids that I work with back in the United States, but there is just a different energy and enthusiasm that accompanies being given an opportunity that has historically never been afforded to someone before, and the pure passion that these girls displayed captured that ideology! The exciting thing about working with these young girls right now is that they are on the cusp of a learning curve to establish success on the national level at a rate that exists in few places in the world. If you wanted to see a tremendous return on your investment in coaching, spend a little time in Africa. Going from nothing at all to anything, by sheer definition you will see growth at exponential rates! Right now, the country in Africa whose President and Minister of Sport commits to investing in girls basketball will quickly dominate the sport on the continent, I know a lot of young girls who are hoping that will be South Africa!!