I cannot say this enough. I am not a sports enthusiast, but when I learn about the accomplishments of women, specifically Black women, I feel that it’s my duty as a Black woman who has accomplished a few incredible feats myself, to give props where props are due, especially when Black excellence often occurs below the radar with little or no recognition. For this post, there are two Black women that I’m honored to shine a big ray of light on in sports leadership.
Cashing in with Swin
One of the two women featured in this post is Swintayla Marie “Swin” Cash Canal born in 1979 in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKeesport. Cash is a former basketball player who played professionally for 15 seasons in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). In her college years her court
skills helped lead the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002. In her second WNBA season, she led the Detroit Shock to their first ever WNBA title. Cash is one of 11 women to receive an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a FIBA World cup gold, and a WNBA
Championship.
In 2015, she was named a studio analyst for MSG Networks covering the New York Knicks pre-games and post-games as well as the weekly coaches show. In 2017, Cash was named the Director of franchise development for the New York Liberty. She currently serves as vice president of basketball operations and team development for the New Orleans Pelicans. She holds basketball camps and clinics under her company, Swin Cash Enterprise LLC, and is involved in charity events through the WNBA.
Cash was intended to be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June 2020; the induction ceremony was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What a profound career with extensive contributions this woman has made to the sports arena, and it’s paying off. On April 2, 2022, the Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Swintayla Marie “Swin” Cash Canal would be among its 2022 inductees. I salute my sister! My money is
on Cash for her success in leading others! You go Girl!
Touchdown!
On Thursday, July 7, 2022, the Las Vegas Raiders hired Sandra Douglass Morgan as their new team president, making her the first Black woman in NFL history to assume the role. Morgan, born in 1978, is a Las Vegas native. In 1999, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from the University of Nevada, and graduated from Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law with a degree in law in 2003.
The former lawyer has broken down barriers throughout her career. In 2019, Morgan was appointed to the role of chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control
Board, served on the Nevada Gaming Commission, served as director of external affairs for AT&T, was the city attorney of North Las Vegas and a litigation attorney for MGM Mirage.
“I have been the first in other positions that I’ve held, whether it be city attorney or the Gaming Control Board. I definitely never want to be the last, and I want to get to a point obviously where there is no more first,” Morgan said. You made the touchdown and the extra point!
Let’s look at some facts as it relates to Black women in sports leadership.
Stats and Facts
It’s no secret that Black women are underrepresented in sport leadership positions. While women have seats at the table where major economic and financial decisions are made, they have not yet reached the top leadership positions in sport. The pipeline for women in leadership has many leaks where women fall out of the progression toward higher-level roles.
One reason, there are many, may be that women’s authority as leaders was often challenged because they did not ‘fit’ the perceived idea/image of a leader. Historically, there have been debates about women’s performance in leadership from women being too emotional to be leaders, making decisions based on their emotions, and women not being as competent as men.
A study of 1,529 respondents by the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf in Germany finds people report women are less qualified for leadership than their male counterparts based on perceptions of how women think and process issues. In the ResumeLab study, 45% of respondents believe women are more likely to follow their emotions when making decisions, while men are more likely to use logical thinking when making decisions. And let’s not forget the myth about the angry Black woman!
Research has revealed that Black women offer stories that express qualitatively different leadership opportunities and experiences in intercollegiate athletics than those reported by white women or Black men, based on the way race often intersects with gender, age, social class, and other identities. The prominence of white men in leadership across U.S. sport institutions suggests that gender and race may be characteristics that are relegating those who are not white and male to the fringes of sport organizational cultures. Therefore, gendered and racialized ideologies embedded in sport and associated with leadership may create a culture in sport that may adversely impact Black women’s leadership opportunities and experiences.
Title IX
So, what has led to the shift in this small but increasing rise in women and Black women attaining leadership roles in today’s sports? Could it be the result of Title IX?
Title IX is the most commonly used name for the federal civil rights law in the United States of America that was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. The purpose of the Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 was to update Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned several forms of discrimination in employment, but did not address or mention discrimination in education. Contrary to popular belief, the creation of Title IX had nothing to do with sports.
Impact on American Schools
The introduction of Title IX was followed by a considerable increase in the number of females participating in organized sports within American academic institutions, followed by growing interest in initiating and developing programs which would pursue feminist principles in relationship to concerns surrounding issues dealing with girls and women’s equality and equity in sport. Although Title IX has helped increase the participation rate of female student athletes, several challenges remain for girls and women, including for females who aspire to become involved in professional roles within sport. Advocates of Title IX’s current interpretation cite increases in female athletic participation, and attribute those increases to Title IX. Whatever the reason, change is happening for Black women in sports leadership, and if this rise is occurring due to Title IX, let’s take the win!
The Score is
As strong and intelligent Black women in leadership, we do well to recognize our strengths and demonstrate our capabilities every day, rather than shying away from situations because of negative perceptions perpetrated by society. When we bring our best, we contribute to organizations and communities.
Yes, the news is good about women’s capability, resilience, and effectiveness. However, women still face tremendous headwinds in terms of biases. But women can find their strength, express their voice, and apply their talents. They can also shape the conditions for others, supporting and influencing the systems which make the world welcoming for women’s contributions.
Like the women spotlighted here, we can foster success for women by empowering and enabling them for career growth and advancement. Black women continue to progress demonstrating effective leadership to positively influencing their organizations. This is the score!
Reference: Armstrong, K., & O’Bryant, C. (2007). Women of color. In M.A. Hums, G.G. Bower, & H. Grappendorf (Eds.), Women as leaders in sport: Impact and influence (pp. 269–298). Oxon Hill, MD: AAHPERD Publications