Whether she likes it or not, Renee Brown’s WNBA legacy is forever cemented. She was with the league from the start and rose to one of pro sports’ high-ranking Black female executives during her nearly decade-plus tenure.
“Charles, you know I’m not going to talk about myself,” reiterated Brown when we ran into each other at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony in Knoxville, Tenn., the last weekend of June. We hadn’t seen each other since she left the league in 2016, but it was always the same with Brown, doing her best to avoid talking about her contributions and achievements, mainly because I was probably one of the few reporters who clearly knew what she did.
This is what I wrote shortly after Brown announced she was leaving the W after 20 years in my Sports Odds and Ends column, Nov. 3, 2016:
Renee Brown was an integral part of the WNBA since its drawing-board days. She signed the league’s first players. She has been involved with all on-court basketball operations and player-related programs. She has represented the league at USA Basketball since 1996, including as selection committee chair for the U.S. women’s basketball team, which won six Olympic gold medals during her stints.
“It has been a privilege serving all of you,” said Brown in a released statement.
League President Lisa Borders told the MSR, “I’ve known Renee for 10-plus years. But I had not had the privilege of working so intimately with her.”
“I’ve enjoyed it,” added Brown. “I’m lucky that Val (Ackerman, founding president) 20 years ago invited me. I’ve enjoyed the journey.”
Fast forward to today, Brown serves as an advisor in the sports industry, specializing in game operations, leadership dynamics and fostering high-performing, inclusive environments for athletes, staff and fans.
But as I reminded her that Saturday evening in Knoxville, Brown can run but can’t hide from the fact that she has a definitive place in the W’s 30-year history.
“Nothing surprised me,” she said when asked whether America’s longest women’s pro basketball league would make it three decades. “Because the (late NBA) commissioner David Stern, when I was talking with him, told me this day was going to come.
“So, I honor him and the work that he did for us,” continued Brown. “What has happened from Val Ackerman to Adam Silver, Mark Tatum to the current commissioner Cathy (Engelbert), I’m gonna give all credit. They’ve lifted this league up, but it would be nothing without these talented players, and the players make this league.”
There are no Black female head coaches in the WNBA this season.
“My biggest concern is that Black women need to get more opportunity to coach in this league,” reaffirmed Brown before we hugged again. “To see that there are no Black women in this league, it should not be like that.
“I think the league should somehow create a program that would help train some of the players,” surmised Brown. “We have great players with great basketball minds who should be head coaches in this league.”
Val Ackerman looks back on the WNBA’s diversity push
Val Ackerman, the Big East commissioner since 2013, is retiring at the end of August. She was the WNBA founding president and served the league’s first eight seasons, then chaired USA Basketball in 2005. She also served two terms as U.S. representative for men’s and women’s basketball in FIBA.
Ackerman and I spoke about diversity issues during her time with the W, and she took my question about it during a media call in April.
“Charles, I continue to believe, and my presidents have heard me loud and clear on this,” she responded, “that diversity is critically important in the sports business. We’ve got people of all genders, gender diversity, racial diversity, ethnic diversity across the board in sports leagues and outlets across the country.
“I’m proud of the Big East because I really feel like we have been a leader in pushing these themes,” said Ackerman before answering our question about the W.
“It was the dream when we started the league that it would get to that point where the players would be making significant salaries, and that the fan support would be at a high level,” Ackerman pointed out. “I’m thrilled to see that it happened” on the league’s new seven-year CBA. “It fulfills the dream that we had at the beginning, and I’m sure it will be even brighter than it is today.”
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