Lynette Woodard: Will the real diva please stand up
The least talked about best kept secret
By Adrienne Goodson
As a baller I have had the sheer pleasure of playing against the absolute best in the world. From the US to Brazil to Hong Kong the list has been deep. I sat back and reminisced about all of those women Hoopin’ for love just like the men do. Icons like Cheryl Miler, Hortencia (Brazil), Ann Myers-Drysdale, Katrina McClain, Medina Dixon, Carol Blazejowski and Anne Donovan all paved the road for a player like me. These names are just a few of the great ones but there’s one not mentioned who deserves the crown. The best and least talked about diva is Lynette Woodard.
Lynette is truly a highly respected pioneer in women’s sports. Better known by her peers as “L Dub”, she has quietly put together a resume that goes unmatched by any female player walking this green earth. She has achieved many awards, actually too many to discuss, but I must mention that she won the Wade and Broderick Trophies all in one year, earned a Gold Medal in the 1984 Olympics, was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Clyde Drexler as well as became the first ever female Harlem Globetrotter. Lynette has contributed to many statistical categories and set many records in the past. She’s undoubtedly a legend set apart from the rest.
In addition to the hardwood, Lynette is helping to empower women through seminars by instructing them on how to become a better individual. Her speeches reflect on core values as well as provide a network to help motivate and inspire greatness. “The Women of Color Leaders” is a group developed by Lynette and powered by the Minnesota Lynx and Blackheart Publications in the Twin Cities.
This instruction on how to embrace the leadership journey is so very powerful because it gives each person the opportunity to meet local leaders, learn from their leadership, and share personal experiences. The girl is doing it big and deserves to be talked about.
I decided to take a trip into the past so that people understand that where they sit today is because of what someone else did yesterday. Lynette and I conversed about women’s basketball as a whole and where it’s going, but most of the conversation had to do with the lack of resources in place for women after basketball. “ We need a network, a forum in which we can go get help to develop our businesses, our ideas, our skills. There’s nothing in place for former players and that’s a problem. We spend all of our time playing ball only to find out that there’s nothing there in the end is disappointing”, she states and I can’t agree with her more. Even ECPI has job placement. Nah mean….
The solution isn’t simple but there are things out there for those fans of the past to see. Starting with a group of legends coming together to make it happen. On August 8th thru the 10th in Houston-Texas an all-star cast of WNBA legends will battle against the Houston Jaguars, a semi pro team owned and operated by Lynette. Not only will there be great entertainment but a basketball clinic, nutrition clinic, and question and answer panel. The Legend All-Star Charity Weekend Classic will include players like: Chamique Holdsclaw, Bridget Pettis, Tracy Reid, Monica Lamb, Rushia Brown, Nykesha Sales, Teresa Weatherspoon, Kym Hampton, Ruthie Bolton, Valerie Still, and Adrienne Goodson. There’s power in numbers. The power to create change in one city at a time. This is just the beginning. Stay tuned.
18 Responses to “Lynette Woodard: Will the real diva please stand up”
Apr.28 at 2:12 pm
Ken says:
nice to see lady ballers get some love from slam.
Apr.28 at 2:24 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Nothing new, Ken. Goody’s got it!
Apr.28 at 2:25 pm
Stephen Litel says:
Truly a pioneer. Man, there were a few names in there I had forgotten about. Thanks, Adrienne.
Apr.28 at 2:29 pm
Eboy says:
Good work as always, Goody. Is Adrienne Goodson playing in the All Star Weekend Classic and will there be game notes?
Apr.28 at 2:38 pm
Goody says:
This game is gonna be bananas fellas. Old school-New school. Look for more. This things getting ready to catch fire and slam delivers it first. Thanks for the love. Stephen we need to hook up. Get my email from someone ova there at Slam. We gon’ heat this column up my friend…
Apr.28 at 2:59 pm
Ryan Jones says:
I saw Lynette play with the Globetrotters. One of my clearest young basketball memories.
Apr.28 at 3:03 pm
Ben Osborne says:
I saw her with the ‘Trotters, too, though it was not one of my clearest memories. She was/is cool though.
Apr.28 at 9:18 pm
Goody says:
Oh by the way the owner of the Jaguars is Loius Ray. Lynette is helping promote the team. The girl had mad game. She had a lot of street in her game for real. Cappie like…
Apr.29 at 6:27 am
Hursty says:
Like the globe trotters in Little Nicky? bananas, that is?
Apr.29 at 10:13 am
Katharine Sinderson says:
Regarding the Houston Jaguars, do they have any plans to play in the AAU Women’s Tournament and would they be eligible to do so?
Apr.29 at 1:52 pm
Goody says:
Semi-pro dude. AAU is amateur athletics…
Apr.29 at 10:31 pm
Blackberry says:
Good to see you back! Houston sounds like it’s going to be the place to be for that legends game! It will be bananas to see you doing your thing back on the court!
Apr.30 at 8:55 am
Goody says:
Hello Dey know…
May.3 at 10:56 pm
Krys says:
Looking forward to this game.
May.6 at 1:15 pm
Lynne Gray says:
Thank you Ms. Goodson for bringing such an inspiring and phenomenal person to SLAM. She happens to be a pretty good basketball player too! I am one of the more fortunate that had the opportunity to meet Lynette while we were both in high school. I thought I had a few moves until playing against her. I should have known better since my brother (who played for Wichita State at the time) would choose her for his team to play in pick up games. I was not blessed with her skill on the court, but I have been able to pass Lynette’s advice and wisdom on to my twin daughters as they were developing their skills when they were only 9 years old. I took them to see Lynette play in a WNBA game versus the Sacramento Monarchs. She was with the Detroit Shock at the time. My daughters have always had height that was above average, and Lynette provided them with some very good advise after her game as they met with her near the locker room. She told them that they needed to make sure that they were the best students that they could possibly be, and to learn to play EVERY position on the court; especially the point! They looked a little confused because they figured center would be their only option because of their height. At that time, they were post players on a BOYS 12 & Under AAU team…taller than most boys that were three years their senior. She went on to tell them that “if Magic Johnson can play the point at 6′9″, so can you!” From that day forward, they informed their school coaches that they would need to play some minutes at the point during every game. It helped their ball handling skills, agility and confidence. It also saved me many dollars in college tuition. Both of them, Ashley and Courtney Paris are student-athletes at the University of Oklahoma and a member of the Sooners women’s basketball team. Each have followed in Lynette’s footsteps with participation in USA Basketball as well. Again…Lynette is a legend beyond legends on the court, but I am even more impressed and fortunate to be able to call her a true friend.
May.6 at 10:22 pm
Goody says:
That story is so hot Lynne. I mean really, your kids are doin it big at the OK coral. People don’t realize how important it is for such knowledge to be passed on. When you respect the game it respects you. The simple statement about playing all positions changed those kids game completely. Thanks for the love in your comments and thanks for loving Lynette.
May.22 at 9:26 am
Rodney A.Stephens says:
I can remember growing up watching Lynette play. She is a true legend and so are the other greats you mentioned above!
Jun.23 at 9:47 pm
Mei says:
I played with Lynette when she was in Japan.
She told me how to become better person and how to achieve the dream. I really like that way she lives because she is always looking for challenge in her life. And She is a ture legend, I still remember how good she played in Japan.