The Harlem Globetrotters has been known for breaking records and breaking social barriers for decades. Not only have they encouraged racial unity, they have used the art of basketball to promote women’s empowerment. Signing pro basketball player Lynnette Woodard in 1985 was historical moment in the team’s history. Woodard became the first women to sign with a men’s professional basketball team.
Since that monumental day, 15 other women’s basketball players have joined the Harlem Globetrotters, enforcing girl power from country to country.
Lynette Woodard would be on the Harlem Globetrotters until 1987. Prior to her Globetrotters debut, Woodard attended the University of Kansas. She aided the women’s basketball team to three Big-8 championships. Woodard earned a spot on the Team USA women’s basketball team and won gold in the 1984 Olympics.
Jackie White joined Woodard in 1986 with a phenomenal college career as her resume. White helped Cal Poly Pomona to a national championship and became the 1983 Division II Player of the Year.
Joyce Walker played with the Globetrotters from 1987-1988. The LSU standout played overseas for five years before playing for the Globetrotters. She was inducted into the national high school Hall of Fame and aided Garfield High school in Seattle, WA to a State Championship.
Sandra Hodge is ranked second in Division I NCAA women’s basketball in scoring average with 26.7 points per game since the association started collecting team statistics in 1981. As of 2017, Hodge is still ranks first in field goals at the University of New Orleans. She was a Globetrotter from 1987-1993.
LaQuency “Candy” Lucas attended UNC-Charlotte and played for the Globetrotters from 1988-1989.
Ella Williams scored a total of 1,686 points for South Alabama, ranking her third on the all time scoring list for the university. Williams was with the Harlem Globetrotters from 1989-1990.
Bridget Turner became the 1989 Big-8 Player of the Year, helping the Colorado women’s basketball team reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in 1988. Turner took her talents to the Globetrotters in 1989, staying for one year.
Jollette Law began her coaching career briefly after her stint with the Globetrotters from 1991-1993. She was a head coach at Illinois and associate head coach at Rutgers. Law is currently a assistant coach at South Carolina.
Fatima “TNT” Lister is a current member of the Harlem Globetrotters, starting her career in 2011. She played basketball with former President Barack Obama during the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll. In 2006, Lister helped Temple earn an Atlantic-10 tournament title.
Ariel “Mighty” Mitchell has recently become an inaugural member of the Dillard University Sports Hall of Fame, averaging 13.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. She spent a year with the Globetrotters after signing in 2012.
Tammy “T-Time” Brawner earned an MBA from the Dominican University of California, playing for the Penguins and the Cal State Northridge Matadors. She was an assistant coach of Skyline High School in her native town of Oakland and played for the Globetrotters from 2012-2015
Joyce “Sweet J” Ekworomadu became the first Nigerian to play for the Globetrotters in 2013. She has played for the Nigerian national team for the 23rd annual Afrobasket for women tournament. Ekworomadu is the fifth player in Texas State University history to score 1500 points and 600 rebounds.
Crissa “Ace” Jackson led the Point Loma Nazarene University women’s basketball team with 15.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 three-pointers per game. She also reached the Deans list and earned an All-Academic selection. Jackon joined the Globetrotters in 2015.
Bria “Swish” Young earned 1,067 points during her time at Philadelphia University. She was also co-MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Young joined the Globetrotters in 2016.
Briana “Hoops” Green helped Lexington Catholic High School earn two state championship titles. At the University of Texas-El Paso, she is ranked third in the all-time wins. Green signed with the Globetrotters in 2016.
Cherelle “Torch” George once scored 48 points in a game for Iowa Western Community College and scored 1,183 points during her time there. George is a member of the Globetrotters rookie class.
People of the South Land will get an opportunity to see Torch George and the Harlem Globetrotters at the Staples Center on Sunday, February 25 at 2:00P.M. and at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, February 18 at 2:00P.M. and Saturday, February 24 at 1:00P.M. and 7:00P.M.
