http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11312366/becky-hammon-hired-san-antonio-spurs
Becky Hammon hired to Spurs' staff
Updated: August 5, 2014, 1:11 PM ET
ESPN.com news services
Veteran WNBA player Becky Hammon is joining the reigning NBA champion San Antonio Spurs' coaching staff, the first woman assistant in the league.
The Spurs made the announcement Tuesday. Terms of the contract were not revealed.
Hammon, who is currently in her 16th WNBA season, announced July 23 that she would retire as a player at the end of the 2014 season.
"I very much look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said in a statement Tuesday. "Having observed her working with our team this past season, I'm confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs."
When Hammon's 15th WNBA season was derailed because of a knee injury, she was invited by Popovich to attend his team's practices.
Popovich was asked in May whether women can coach men's players, and he replied, "I don't see why not. There shouldn't be any limitations. It's about talent and the ability to do things. It's not about what your sex is or your race or anything else."
Named one of the WNBA's top 15 players of al-time in July 2011, Hammon ranks seventh in WNBA history in points (with 5,809), fourth in assists (1,687) and sixth in games (445).
A six-time WNBA All-Star, Hammon has spent the last eight seasons with the San Antonio Stars. She is their all-time leader in assists (1,112) and three-point field goals made (493) while ranking second in franchise history in points (3,442) and games (218). In 2012 Hammon was the top vote getter for the Stars All-Decade Team.
