Her Time To Play is a national initiative that is dedicated to championing change on behalf of girls and women and providing them with ways to connect, collaborate, and actively engage with one another through the game of basketball.
As part of the WNBA’s 25th season, the WNBA, AT&T, and the Dallas Wings hosted an intimate and interactive Her Time To Play virtual community conversation and clinic for girls from the Dallas community.
Panelists included Dallas Wings Head Coach Vickie Johnson, guard Marina Mabrey, and Wings EVP & Chief Strategy Officer Lisa Feigenbaum, and AT&T’s Mylayna Albright.
Last month, Teach Our Future hosted Her Time To Play at the Dream Center. Girls from the Tulsa community were able to participate in a basketball clinic and receive free school supplies.
The participants had a chance to learn new skills and hear from several speakers who were all former or current players.
Taneisha Aeschleman shared her story of perseverance and overcoming obstacles. Aescheleman was offered a track scholarship but decided to play the game she loved, basketball. She got pregnant after her first year of college. While she chose to be a mother, she didn’t give up on her dreams. She ended up hooping for four years in college and became the only person on her mother’s side of the family to have college experience. “I wanted to be somebody. I didn’t settle because I knew that there was something bigger for me. I have a degree to show them you can do it,” said Aeschleman.
Tatiana Gilford earned All-State honors at Jenks High School. She tore her ACL her freshman year of college. Her injury affected her mental health. “It’s OK to say that you’re not OK, it hurts to go through it alone,” said Gilford. Gilford wanted to give back to girls in North Tulsa. Says Gilford, “This is about giving kids an opportunity, it’s not about your skin color, what you look like, or what people say you can’t do. This is about believing in yourself.” She gave the players this advice: Be there for somebody, be nice to others, and separate yourself from unhealthy friendships to better yourself.
Tatia Brown was a member of the 1988 women’s national championship basketball team at Louisiana Tech University. She was inducted into the Tulsa Public School Hall of Fame in 2014. Brown was also inducted into the McLain High School Hall of Fame in 2016. Additionally, the entrance into the McLain High School athletic field house is called Tatia Brown Commons Area. Says Brown, “I wanted people to know that I was here. My goal was to be an inspiration to my kids and use basketball as a way to teach them about life.”
