FAMU’s Thailan Payne gets an all-star education as WNBA HBCU intern

CHICAGO – When asked what she did this summer, FAMU senior Thailan Payne can easily say she spent a week in Chicago, among other things, working with female all-star basketball players.

“First of all, I got to meet Obama today,” gushed Payne on meeting former President Barack Obama when he stopped by his presidential library during her time as a WNBA HBCU Intern.  “I got to see him for the first time.  That was a big experience.”

Inside the WNBA Internship Program

This year marks the second year of the league’s HBCU Event Intern Program, sponsored by Mielle, a Black-owned natural hair care company that has a multi-year partnership with the W. 

It brings Black college students “into the heart of All-Star Weekend” throughout the week leading up to and during WNBA All-Star 2026, in behind-the-scenes roles and immersive programming that includes mentorship, professional development, and networking with leaders across the industry.

MSR last year talked to then senior Beverly Robertson, an HBCU Intern from Howard. This year, before the July 25 WASG at United Center, we talked to Payne, an incoming senior basketball player at Florida A&M who worked with League Operations.

“We’ve been making sure players are where they need to be. Players have everything they need, like checking into hotels, making sure they have transportation to and from events.  Also, making sure the events are running smoothly.”

Payne continued, “I’ve just been seeing all the small things that go into the WNBA because a lot of people don’t really take time to think about those things.  But it’s a lot of small things that go into that, and that’s what I’ve really been coming to see by my experience here.”

She first learned about the WNBA internship from her head coach Bridgette Gordon before summer school began.  “I got to do this,” she remembers. “This sounds like something that I really need to put my time into, even though it doesn’t fit my major, but it’s always different opportunities that you might not know.”

“I’m so proud of the interns we do have,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told me.  “They do relations through different groups, not only in the WNBA.  Hopefully some of them ultimately work for the league.  It’s a really great program.  I’m really proud of it.”

Breaking Barriers Beyond the Court

Payne is from Southaven, Miss., a biology pre-medicine major.  She was one of eight FAMU WBB players named to the SWAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll in June that recognizes student-athletes with a cumulative 3.0 or higher grade point average during the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters.

“I actually went through medicine because you don’t see a lot of Black women in the dermatology field,” said Payne.  “I actually was influenced by a woman of color, Dr. Pimple Popper.  I watch her show all the time. You don’t see very many dermatologists who are Black,” she added.

Working with the W last month “definitely something I want to take back home,” surmised Payne, “especially being one of the first Black women players for FAMU … just making sure that I leave my impact wherever I stand.”

On meeting Obama, “Many people don’t get to do that, and I was so excited to be at least one of the people that were there in his presence,” reflected Payne.

Finally, the 6-1 senior forward is looking forward to her final season at FAMU.

“My team is definitely going to set the record this year,” Payne pointed out.  “We have a lot of new girls, but we also had no one enter the transfer portal this year, so we have a lot of new returners as well.  We have a lot of energy, a lot of athleticism, a lot of leadership, and we’re really going to be a player-led team this year, and that’s really going to make a difference.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

Copyright © Charles Hallman