If Not For Them

She shared some remarkable stories from her own playing days and about the challenges of recruiting to a brand new program with If Not For Them.

Linda Sharp is sitting in a chair and smiling at the camera.

A big win for the USC Trojans, toppling ninth-ranked NC State this weekend!

Linda Sharp, the program’s first coach, led USC to two championships and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.

“…And now, through this series, I have been slowly learning about all of those who have gone before me. My generation did not have the struggles like those before me, so I'm learning just what they had to go through, so that I and future generations might have unimaginable opportunities.”

“…and then followed the current leagues, I was so excited to hear about this project. I had never heard the stories before. I didn't know anyone who could tell me those stories...

A few thoughts from her on INFT:

“I have really enjoyed having the opportunity to be a part of If Not For Them team as a production assistant. Having a strong interest in women's basketball, having played all the way through college, and then coached younger kids…

Joni in an orange “If Not For Them” shirt standing in the stands at Target Center with the court behind her.

Joni and guests in from on two SLAM magazine covers with Napheesa Collier on them.

Production assistant Joni Kelsey shared these great pictues from Minnesota Lynx games this season. She has seen 10 of the 13 WNBA teams in-person!

How many have you seen?

We are thrilled to support this team and their coverage of #WNBAAllStar in Indianapolis!

Photo of UConn coach Geno Auriemma smiling and talking with ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

With the win, UConn and coach Geno Auriemma improved to 142-24 in the NCAA Tournament. He continues as the all-time leader in NCAA wins, NCAA Tournament games and winning percentage in the NCAA Tournament.

📷 @thenext.bsky.social

Photo of past and present UConn players and coaches posing with a school flag.

Congratulations to UConn Women's Basketball, the 2025 NCAA DI National Champions! They secured the program's historic 12th title on Sunday with a victory against South Carolina.

📷 @thenext.bsky.social

Everyone who makes a donation will receive a link to the one-hour preview and the newly produced theme song, written and produced by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Brandy Clark! (5/5)

Join the Team Make a tax-deductible contribution, purchase something from our store, submit a story idea and spread the word! List of Donors A documentary series of this scope has never been produced on the history...

The first four episodes are in production. The distribution outlet and date is TBD. You can help preserve this important history by joining the team at ifnotforthem.com/join-the-team/ (4/5)

Join the Team Make a tax-deductible contribution, purchase something from our store, submit a story idea and spread the word! List of Donors A documentary series of this scope has never been produced on the history...

Over 400 women's basketball players, fans and coaches have made tax-deductible contributions to this project.

Veteran women's basketball broadcaster, Brenda VanLengen, is the creator and executive producer of the project and as of March 16, 2025, 60% of the project has been funded. (3/5)

Join the Team Make a tax-deductible contribution, purchase something from our store, submit a story idea and spread the word! List of Donors A documentary series of this scope has never been produced on the history...

If Not For Them is a documentary series in production that reveals the stories of those who built the foundation for #NCAAWBB, and women's sports overall, BEFORE the NCAA took over in the early 1980s. We would not be experiencing the success we have today in women's sports If Not For Them. (2/5)

Join the Team Make a tax-deductible contribution, purchase something from our store, submit a story idea and spread the word! List of Donors A documentary series of this scope has never been produced on the history...

As we begin March Madness 2025, would you like to watch a one-hour preview of the 10 episodes of the If Not For Them docuseries and hear its remarkable theme song written and produced by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Brandy Clark! (1/5)

Preview Theme Song Access Thank you for your interest in this project Socials…

Everyone who makes a donation will receive a link to the one-hour preview and the newly produced theme song, written and produced by Grammy Award Winning singer/songwriter Brandy Clark!

Join the Team Make a tax-deductible contribution, purchase something from our store, submit a story idea and spread the word! List of Donors A documentary series of this scope has never been produced on the history...

The first four episodes are in production. The distribution outlet and date is TBD. You can help preserve this important history by joining the team at ifnotforthem.com/join-the-team/

Preview Theme Song Access Thank you for your interest in this project Socials…

Over 400 women's basketball players, fans and coaches have made tax-deductible contributions to this project.

Veteran women's basketball broadcaster, Brenda VanLengen, is the creator and executive producer of the project and as of March 16, 2025, 60% of the project has been funded.

Join the Team Make a tax-deductible contribution, purchase something from our store, submit a story idea and spread the word! List of Donors A documentary series of this scope has never been produced on the history...

If Not For Them is a documentary series in production that reveals the stories of those who built the foundation for #NCAAWBB, and women's sports overall, BEFORE the NCAA took over in the early 1980s. We would not be experiencing the success we have today in women's sports If Not For Them.

The Legendarium: A Vision in the Phog A special Legendarium for Black History Month centers one of the first ever pioneers of the game: Marian Washington. How her legacy lives on and can be carried into the next evolution of the game.

Thank you to Andrew Haubner at @nocapspacewbb.com for the writing about the incredible career of Marian Washington!

You can read more about her life and work in her memoir “Fierce” which was published last year:

🔗 marianewashington.com/books

Molly Kazmer named finalist for Naismith Hall of Fame - The Next Molly Kazmer, a legendary member of the Women's Professional Basketball League, has been nominated for a Hall of Fame recognition.

On Friday, Molly Kazmer, a star of the original women’s professional basketball league in the United States, was named a finalist for the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Details at the link!:

www.thenexthoops.com/features/mol...

That’s a wonderful memory! Thank you for sharing.

Black History Month Spotlight This Black History Month, we will highlight trailblazing women like Ora Washington, Bessie Stockard, Marian E. Washington and more.

As #BlackHistoryMonth begins, we want to acknowledge some of the incredible trailblazers in women’s basketball.

Graphic listing Marian Washington’s credentials: 1st • Black woman to coach WBB at a Division I school • Black woman to coach a USA Basketball Team overseas (Jones Cup, 1982) • Black woman on an Olympic Basketball staff • Director of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics at University of Kansas • Female president of Black Coaches Association Advocacy led to policy change requiring a minority coach be part of every USA Basketball staff 560 career coaching victories over 31 years Recruited Lynette Woodard, who held the WBB scoring record for 40 years

A great piece from Mel Greenberg’s blog on legendary player and coach Marian Washington and why she deserves to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

We’re rooting for you!

🔗 womhoops.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-guru-ncaaw-report-on-behalf-of-hof.html

YouTube video by Locked On Women's Basketball The WBL’s 45th anniversary, the legacy of the league and Legends of the Ball, Inc. | WBB Podcast

Today is the 46th anniversary of the first WBL game between the Chicago Hustle and the Milwaukee Does.

Last year I talked to Legends of the Ball, Inc. president Elizabeth Galloway-McQuitter about the anniversary, the legacy of the league and more:

@thenext.bsky.social

Flyer with details about the docuseries and growth of women’s basketball. Record-shattering tv viewershipbb, social media explosion, unprecedented investment and Title IX 50th celebration.

Flyer advertising the docuseries with a list of partnership options: docuseries title sponsorship, docuseries presenting sponsorship, individual episode sponsorship. There are also opportunities for engagement: tv/streaming distribution, community events, educational components and social media.

Thank you to everyone who chose to support If Not For Them on this #GivingTuesday!

If you are still interested in supporting the docuseries and its important preservation of women’s basketball history, you can Join the Team here:

🔗 ifnotforthem.com/join-the-tea...

If you’d like to be part of our effort to recover and share the forgotten history of women’s basketball before the NCAA, join our team at @ifnotforthem.bsky.social! It’s a ten-episode docuseries in production featuring those who built the foundation for college women’s sports!

Join the Team Make a tax-deductible contribution, purchase something from our store, submit a story idea and spread the word! List of Donors A documentary series of this scope has never been produced on the history...

This #GivingTuesday, please consider a tax-deductible gift to If Not For Them.

We continue to make progress on production of our first three episodes and have begun scripting Episode 4.

Your support means so much to preserving and sharing this important history!

Graphic with orange and yellow leaves around the edges and an If Not For Them logo in center. Text overlay says “Happy Thanksgiving.”

Today and everyday we are thankful for the trailblazers who changed the world through basketball and our supporters who are helping to tell their incredible stories.

#ncaawbb #WNBA

“This is yet another outstanding milestone in a career filled with them for Geno Auriemma. The level of success he has maintained at UConn over four decades will never be duplicated. But his tremendous legacy extends far beyond any number of wins. It lives in the lives of the countless young women he has positively influenced throughout his career. Congratulations to Geno and Chris on this incredible accomplishment.” – Tara VanDerveer

Tara VanDerveer releases a statement on Geno passing her all-time wins record

Nice work by the Sanford Pentagon honoring some of the greats in women’s basketball on the Legends Court. @ifnotforthem.bsky.social

Tonight at 6pmCT Iowa vs Kansas on @bigtennetwork.bsky.social