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If Not For Them

@ifnotforthem.bsky.social
626 followers 117 following 68 posts

A docuseries in production on the origin story of college women’s basketball. Set up as a non-profit production. Executive Producer Brenda VanLengen. ifnotforthem.com/join-the-team/

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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Over the past few weeks, Executive Producer Brenda VanLengen has presented portions of “If Not For Them” to select audiences in Tulsa, Washington DC, Iowa City, Lubbock and Nashville as part of our awareness and fundraising campaign.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Congratulations to the 2026 USA Women’s Basketball National Team for winning their 12th World Cup Title and their fifth consecutive gold medal! #teamusa #fibawwc @usabasketball.bsky.social
Photo of the 1957 US World Championship team posing on the stairs of an airplane.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Congratulations to Coach Marian Washington for being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 1996 @usabasketball.bsky.social Olympic team coaching staff! (1/3)
A black and white photo of Marian Washington cutting down a basketball net.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
It was so good to see WNBA star Napheesa Collier back on the court today! 24 points and 10 rebounds in her season debut after recovering from two ankle surgeries! #wnba #minnesotalynx
Photo of a screen showing the Minnesota Lynx broadcast. Napheesa Colloer is touching her ear and smiling.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Dr. Jill Hutchison played a huge role in advancing women's basketball on and off the court throughout her career. She even helped prove scientifically that women could compete in a full-court five-on-five game and hosted the first AIAW National Championship at Illinois State in 1972. (1/2)
news.illinoisstate.edu
A heart for the game: Hutchison honored for impactful coaching career
Dr. Jill Hutchison, a three-time conference coach of the year, has added yet another honor to her lengthy list as the recipient of Illinois State University’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
On this 54th anniversary of Title IX, let's remember and thank the courageous women who battled for its implementation, which provides equitable opportunities for girls and women in sports and education!
Photo of Charlotte West standing in front of a mural of herself as a youger coach. Her arms are raised to her sides and bent in a flexing position.Photo of Donna Lopiano sitting in a chair in front of a fireplace. She is smiling.Photo of Brenda VanLengen and Dr. Bessie Stockard standing side-by-side and smiling.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
We want to wish a very happy birthday to legendary Longhorn Jody Conradt! You can read about and remember some of her incredible coaching accomplishments in the If Not For Them blog.
ifnotforthem.com
A Birthday Celebration for Jody Conradt
As we celebrated Jody Condradt’s birthday on May 16, it seemed like a prime time to share a few of our favorite moments from her decorated career: In 1963… She graduated from Baylor University with a…
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Join us to celebrate the life and accomplishments of legendary coach Jessie Banks, who passed away in February. You can read more about how she changed the sport of basketball in Colorado and around the country in our latest blog.
ifnotforthem.com
Remembering Jessie Banks
Legendary coach and women’s basketball trailblazer Jessie Banks passed away on February 20, 2026, at the age of 90. Banks, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a member the…
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
In honor of Black History Month, we want to celebrate Marian E. Washington and Patricia Ferguson, two of the stars on the first college national championship team.
ifnotforthem.com
West Chester University: The First College Women’s Basketball National Tournament Champion
In honor of Black History Month, we want to celebrate Marian E. Washington and Patricia Ferguson, two of the stars on the first college national championship team. In 1969, West Chester State College…
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Thank you to Athletes Unlimited for celebrating Dr. Bessie Stockard, one of the stars of the If Not For Them docuseries and the first Black woman to serve on a US National Team coaching staff when she helped select and coach the women’s basketball team preparing for the 1976 Olympics!
Bessie Stockard sitting with an event emcee. Bessie Stockard sitting with an event emcee. A camera is filming them and you can see a crowd behind them. A camera crew films Bessie Stockard. You can see her on the screen behind them.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
What an incredible day in Nashville for If Not For Them on Friday, February 13th. We’re sending a huge thank you to NCAA National Champion and two-time WNBA Champion, Sydney Colson, for lending her voice and her perspective to the If Not For Them series!
Brenda VanLengen, Dr. Bessie Stockard and Sydney ColsonDr. Bessie Stockard and Sydney Colson holding a grey shirt with the If Not For Them logo. Dr. Bessie Stockard and Sydney Colson sitting on a sofa and talking in front of cameras.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
It is no surprise that UConn and Tennessee landed at #1 and #2 in the recent @apnews.com Poll that ranks the greatest womens basketball programs of all time. The AP analyzed nearly 900 polls over the last 50 years to develop a ranking formula to determine the top teams including factors like…
Immaculata team picture 1972 Lusia HarrisWayland Baptist
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
After 49 years as a game-changing coach and athletic administrator, Texas legend Jody Conradt is retiring from fulltime employment. You can review some of her career highlights here in the If Not For Them blog: ifnotforthem.com/a-birthday-celebration-for-jody-conradt/
Marsha Sharp, Brenda VanLengen and Jody Conradt standing together and smiling at the camera.Brenda VanLengen, Jody Conradt and Ron Thulin sitting at a table. They all have tv broadcast headsets on.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Congratulations to Hannah Hidalgo on an incredible performance last night! She set a Notre Dame record with 44 points and an #ncaaw record with 16 steals against Akron. Did you know she and Kentucky legend Valerie Still are both from Camden County, NJ?
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
A big win for the USC Trojans, toppling ninth-ranked NC State this weekend! Linda Sharp, the program’s first coach, led USC to two championships and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Linda Sharp is sitting in a chair and smiling at the camera.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Production assistant Joni Kelsey shared these great pictues from Minnesota Lynx games this season. She has seen 10 of the 13 WNBA teams in-person! How many have you seen?
Joni in an orange “If Not For Them” shirt standing in the stands at Target Center with the court behind her.Joni and guests in from on two SLAM magazine covers with Napheesa Collier on them.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
We are thrilled to support this team and their coverage of #WNBAAllStar in Indianapolis!
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Congratulations to UConn Women's Basketball, the 2025 NCAA DI National Champions! They secured the program's historic 12th title on Sunday with a victory against South Carolina. 📷 @thenext.bsky.social
Photo of past and present UConn players and coaches posing with a school flag.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
As we begin March Madness 2025, would you like to watch a one-hour preview of the 10 episodes of the If Not For Them docuseries and hear its remarkable theme song written and produced by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Brandy Clark! (1/5)
ifnotforthem.com
Join the Team
Make a tax-deductible contribution, purchase something from our store, submit a story idea and spread the word! List of Donors A documentary series of this scope has never been produced on the history...
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Thank you to Andrew Haubner at @nocapspacewbb.com for the writing about the incredible career of Marian Washington! You can read more about her life and work in her memoir “Fierce” which was published last year: 🔗 marianewashington.com/books
nocapspacewbb.com
The Legendarium: A Vision in the Phog
A special Legendarium for Black History Month centers one of the first ever pioneers of the game: Marian Washington. How her legacy lives on and can be carried into the next evolution of the game.
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The IX Sports @theixsports.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
On Friday, Molly Kazmer, a star of the original women’s professional basketball league in the United States, was named a finalist for the Naismith Hall of Fame. Details at the link!: www.thenexthoops.com/features/mol...
thenexthoops.com
Molly Kazmer named finalist for Naismith Hall of Fame - The Next
Molly Kazmer, a legendary member of the Women's Professional Basketball League, has been nominated for a Hall of Fame recognition.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
As #BlackHistoryMonth begins, we want to acknowledge some of the incredible trailblazers in women’s basketball.
ifnotforthem.com
Black History Month Spotlight
This Black History Month, we will highlight trailblazing women like Ora Washington, Bessie Stockard, Marian E. Washington and more.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
A great piece from Mel Greenberg’s blog on legendary player and coach Marian Washington and why she deserves to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame. We’re rooting for you! 🔗 womhoops.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-guru-ncaaw-report-on-behalf-of-hof.html
Graphic listing Marian Washington’s credentials: 

1st
• Black woman to coach WBB at a Division I
school
• Black woman to coach a USA Basketball Team overseas (Jones Cup, 1982)
• Black woman on an Olympic Basketball staff
• Director of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics at
University of Kansas
• Female president of Black Coaches Association
Advocacy led to policy change requiring a minority coach be part of every USA Basketball staff
560 career coaching victories over 31 years
Recruited Lynette Woodard, who held the WBB scoring record for 40 years
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Natalie Heavren @natalieheavren.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Today is the 46th anniversary of the first WBL game between the Chicago Hustle and the Milwaukee Does. Last year I talked to Legends of the Ball, Inc. president Elizabeth Galloway-McQuitter about the anniversary, the legacy of the league and more: @thenext.bsky.social
youtube.com
The WBL’s 45th anniversary, the legacy of the league and Legends of the Ball, Inc. | WBB Podcast
YouTube video by Locked On Women's Basketball
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Thank you to everyone who chose to support If Not For Them on this #GivingTuesday! If you are still interested in supporting the docuseries and its important preservation of women’s basketball history, you can Join the Team here: 🔗 ifnotforthem.com/join-the-tea...
Flyer with details about the docuseries and growth of women’s basketball. Record-shattering tv viewershipbb, social media explosion, unprecedented investment and Title IX 50th celebration.Flyer advertising the docuseries with a list of partnership options: docuseries title sponsorship, docuseries presenting sponsorship, individual episode sponsorship. There are also opportunities for engagement: tv/streaming distribution, community events, educational components and social media.
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Brenda VanLengen @brendavanlengen.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
If you’d like to be part of our effort to recover and share the forgotten history of women’s basketball before the NCAA, join our team at @ifnotforthem.bsky.social! It’s a ten-episode docuseries in production featuring those who built the foundation for college women’s sports!
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
This #GivingTuesday, please consider a tax-deductible gift to If Not For Them. We continue to make progress on production of our first three episodes and have begun scripting Episode 4. Your support means so much to preserving and sharing this important history!
ifnotforthem.com
Join the Team
Make a tax-deductible contribution, purchase something from our store, submit a story idea and spread the word! List of Donors A documentary series of this scope has never been produced on the history...
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Today and everyday we are thankful for the trailblazers who changed the world through basketball and our supporters who are helping to tell their incredible stories. #ncaawbb #WNBA
Graphic with orange and yellow leaves around the edges and an If Not For Them logo in center. Text overlay says “Happy Thanksgiving.”
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Marissa @marissags.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Tara VanDerveer releases a statement on Geno passing her all-time wins record
“This is yet another outstanding milestone in a career filled with them for Geno Auriemma. The level of success he has maintained at UConn over four decades will never be duplicated. But his tremendous legacy extends far beyond any number of wins. It lives in the lives of the countless young women he has positively influenced throughout his career. Congratulations to Geno and Chris on this incredible accomplishment.” – Tara VanDerveer
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Brenda VanLengen @brendavanlengen.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Nice work by the Sanford Pentagon honoring some of the greats in women’s basketball on the Legends Court. @ifnotforthem.bsky.social Tonight at 6pmCT Iowa vs Kansas on @bigtennetwork.bsky.social
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Brenda VanLengen @brendavanlengen.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
This honor is long overdue! So glad to see Lucille Kyvallos will be inducted into the WBB HOF! It was such an honor to interview her for the @ifnotforthem docuseries and get to know her story better. An exceptional athlete with limited opportunities became a great coach impacting generations!
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Congratulations to Lucille Kyvallos of Queens College who will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025! During her tenure, the Knights were ranked in the Top 10 for six straight seasons and #AIAW runner up in 1973. She will be featured in episodes 3 & 4 of the docuseries.
Lucille Kyvallos (left) is honored with a plaque. Lucille Kyvallos stands next to Brenda VanLengen.
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If Not For Them @ifnotforthem.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Welcome new followers! Much of the history of women’s basketball before the NCAA (1982) has been forgotten or never told. We believe it deserves a docuseries to preserve and share the stories. #NCAAWBB #WNBA
ifnotforthem.com
Introducing the documentary series If Not For Them
An epic story of the forgotten women who changed the world through the love of their sport
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