STOCKTON, Calif. — Inside their practice facility in Natomas, the Stockton Kings are preparing to host the Santa Cruz Warriors in the opening round of the G-League playoffs on Thursday night.
It's the second straight season that Stockton has secured the top seed, but the first under Head Coach Lindsey Harding. Harding, who became the first Black woman head coach in the G-League, continued to make history as the first woman to win G-League Coach of the Year.
She was unanimously voted to receive the award by her fellow G-League head coaches and general managers.
"It does feel good to be seen for your hard work, especially if it is from your peers," Harding told ABC10. "I hope it's the start of the conversation that hiring a woman is not a risk."
The former National Player of the Year at Duke, and number one overall pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft quickly earned the respect of her players, who are enjoying the recognition she's received just as much as she has.
"She's so deserving of all the respect," said Sacramento Kings two-way player Jalen Slawson. "It's been great to be able to see her work ethic and be a part of the story, because now I can dispel any rumors that people have or any questions... she deserves to be wherever she wants to be, in the G-League or the NBA".
"She's really a players coach. We all really enjoy playing for her," said fellow two-way player Jordan Ford. "We're looking to win a championship in her first year. I'm just glad to be a part of her journey as well."
Before Tuesday night's victory inside the Golden 1 Center, Sacramento Kings Head Coach Mike Brown, who was named the first ever unanimous NBA Coach of the Year last season, congratulated Harding and her staff.
"I mean, just a whale of a job that she and her staff have done throughout the course of the year. We talked about the number one seeding throughout the playoffs. For her and her staff, led by her, to get Coach of the Year, that's well deserving and just great things continue to happen to the Kings organization," he said.
Harding led the Stockton Kings to a 24-10 record this season. Atlanta Hawks Head Coach Quinn Snyder and Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach Nick Nurse are two of several former G-League Coach of the Year winners to make it to the NBA.
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