Spurs coach Becky Hammon named ESPN's Woman of the Year

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SAN ANTONIO — espnW has named Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon the 2014 Woman of the Year.

Hammon, a historic addition to the Spurs staff, is the first woman to land a full-time professional coaching job with a men’s team in any professional sport.

ESPN reports that her appointment to the Spurs coaching staff after rehabbing for a torn ACL was groundbreaking and that “Big Shot Becky” stopped listening to the doubters and listened to her own voice, allowing her to succeed in the heat of adversity.

ESPN said that Hammon understands that it doesn’t matter where a person was born or what others tell them, but that the story a person tells themselves is what matters the most.

“To be perfectly honest, it's never been about the woman thing," Hammon told the Express-News in August. "It's been about, 'Hey, she's got a great basketball mind, and we'd love to have her and think she'd be a great addition to our program.'”

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon watches during the second half of a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns. A reader says that if Hammon has input on the types of plays the Spurs run, it will shatter at least one stereotype about men. less San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon watches during the second half of a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns. A reader says that if Hammon has input on the types of plays the Spurs run, it will ... more Photo: Matt York / Matt York / Associated Press Photo: Matt York / Matt York / Associated Press Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Spurs coach Becky Hammon named ESPN's Woman of the Year 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich said Hammon's hiring in August was based on her filling the criteria he always seeks in assistant coaches.

“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,” he said.

“Nothing in my life has been easy,” Hammon said in August. “I've always been a person who's done it uphill. I'm up for challenges. I'm up for being outside the box, making tough decisions and challenges. I've always loved challenges. And I'm a little bit of an adrenaline junkie, so throw all that in, this is the perfect challenge and opportunity.

“I'm just so excited. The whole experience is incredibly humbling.”

Hammon, a seven-time WNBA All-Star, officially joined the Spurs after completing in her 16th WNBA campaign with the San Antonio Stars. Named one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time in 2011, she ranks seventh in league history in points (5,841) and fourth in assists (1,708).

Read more about Hammon's path to the Spurs on ExpressNews.com.

Staff writer Dan McCarney and Mike Monroe contributed to this report.

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Twitter: @tylerlwhite