Court-side moms

Today we welcome Sheba Coffey, mother of three professional basketball players, who talks with us about life as an NBA and WNBA mom. Athletic herself, Sheba tells us how she passed the baton on to her kids and how basketball became an integral part of all three of her children’s lives.  

The episode is filled with stories about Sydney, Nia and Amir, their college basketball experiences, Sydney’s time playing overseas and the transition for Nia and Amir to the pro leagues.  We hear about draft night where Nia was chosen 5th overall by the San Antonio Stars and recently signed with the Los Angeles Sparks as well as the rollercoaster of emotions from the heartbreak when Amir went  undrafted to the joy that came when he signed a two way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Sheba talks about what it takes to become a professional athlete, her own career and how she’s managed to live a balanced life. 

For over 17 years our guest today has been in the game and sitting courtside.  Stacy Adams Wright, mom of Dorell and Delon Wright, joins us to talk about her journey having two sons make it to the NBA. Starting with Dorell we hear how he was drafted right out of high school by the Miami Heat and Stacy talks about how she prepared him for the huge leap from high school to the Big Leagues and what life was like for him in the NBA and beyond. 

In parallel, we talk about Delon’s NBA experience, both draft nights and how different things were 11 years later when Delon was drafted by the Toronto Raptors.  Stacy talks about the relationship between the two brothers, the night they played on the court together, their competitive natures and her most memorable moments, including meeting Shaquille O’Neal.

We touch on the changes over the years, especially the acceptance of open conversations about mental health and sports, how they coped with being traded to many different teams, the impact of social media and how players and family manage the stress of championship games.  

Stacy never realized what an orange ball could do for her family. “It’s been a beautiful life”

Fans tap in with Eva Wilson mother of A'ja Wilson

For those who follow the WNBA it might be hard to believe that superstar A’ja Wilson didn’t really like basketball when she first started playing as a young girl.  Eventually it became fun and the journey began. Today A’ja’s mom Eva joins the podcast and talks with us about her daughter. Highly sought as a college player, Eva tells us about the recruitment process, the NCAA championship, A’ja’s relationship with her grandmother and how she has been her inspiration throughout her career. We talk about being Black in the US and her thoughts on the statue erected in her daughter’s honor at the University of South Carolina, a campus her grandmother was not even allowed to walk on.

Eva tells us about draft night and how their family reacted to A’ja being chosen No 1 overall by the Las Vegas Aces, playing in the Wubble, leading her team to the WNBA finals and winning the League MVP award in 2020. Eva shares her insights on their bond as a family, their dynamics, the power of faith and  how that has shaped the person her daughter has become.  We also touch on the  A’ja Wilson Foundation, set up to “change the culture by overcoming the stigma of dyslexia and putting an end to bullying”.

Devonte’ Graham has been known to attribute his success to the strong women in his life, most significantly our guest today, his mom, Dewanna King.  A second round pick in the 2018 draft by the Atlanta Hawks, he was immediately traded to the Charlotte Hornets and Dewanna tells us the unlikely and inspiring story that led her son to the NBA.

Having Devonte at the age of 14, Dewanna talks about her life, how she got through the difficult times and what it has taken to get to where she is today. She credits sports for keeping Devonte’ off the streets and headed on the right path and she tells us how he found basketball and never looked back.  

Taking us through his playing career thus far we hear about his college years, declaring for the draft, his first few years in the NBA including playing in the Rising Stars Challenge at the 2020 All Star Game, how he handles adversity, what motivates him and her hopes for his future.

Q&A with Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington's mom, Sherry Washington

Today we are joined by Sherry Washington, mom of NBA star forward P.J. Washington of the Charlotte Hornets.  

Both Sherry and P.J.’s dad Paul were college basketball stars in their own right and Sherry always knew basketball would be P.J.’s game.  From his first Fisher Price basketball net to towering over his friends on the YMCA court, he was a natural from the beginning. 

Sherry talks about the recruitment process, how P.J. ended up at the University of Kentucky, the incredible fans and how different the experience was for her during her playing career.  

Chosen 12th overall in the first round of the 2019 draft by the Hornets, Sherry describes draft night as a wild and crazy ride and tells us the surprising things she feared most on that fateful evening. 

We hear about P.J.s first NBA game, being a part of Michael Jordan’s world, and what she thinks about the fact that PJ credits her for his shooting skills. 

Today we welcome a mom with two children who made it in the world of professional basketball. Sara Parker, mom of Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker and Anthony Parker who played in the NBA for many years and the EuroLeague, joins “Court-side moms”.

Candace has had a storied career - chosen first overall in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, she’s won a WNBA championship, two WNBA MVP Awards and two Olympic Gold medals. She was also the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award in the same season and Sara talks about what it’s been like to accompany her daughter along her incredible journey.

Sara talks about the relationship between Candace and Anthony, how they’ve supported each other along the way, Anthony’s time with the Toronto Raptors, the importance of family to them all including Candace’s role as a mom and what it’s meant for Anthony to be a dad. We touch on the differences between their professional careers and the blessings and the sacrifices they’ve all experienced along the way.

Welcome Jennifer Ivey who joins us from NYC to talk about her son, Royal Ivey.  Royal, a former NBA player and current assistant coach to Steve Nash and the Brooklyn Nets, was born in Harlem and began playing organized basketball when he was 10 years old. 

His exceptional talent was not obvious, however, until he started playing at Cardozo High School where he led his team to its first PSAL championship. His success on the court also resulted in a basketball scholarship to U of Texas. 

Even then, the NBA was not on their radar until his senior year and Jennifer tells us about Royal’s decision to drop out to become eligible for the draft, the uneventful lead up to draft night - none of his family were even there - and after being drafted 37th overall by the Atlanta Hawks, how his journey to the NBA was almost “through the back door”.  

Playing for multiple teams during his 10 year NBA career, his mom talks about how he managed the many changes, how he stayed relevant and how he coped with the celebrity and the exposure of playing on centre court.  We hear why, after playing for a few months overseas, he chose to end his playing career and his experience of transitioning from player to coach.

Jennifer discusses The Royal Ivey Life and Basketball Skills Clinic which Royal has run for more than 10 years and shares some of her favorite fun facts about her son.

We welcome our second WNBA mom, Joyce Canada, mom of Jordin Canada who was selected 5th overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2018 draft. Jordin’s talent first became apparent when she was in elementary school, playing pick up in the school yard and running circles around the boys she was playing with. At 8 years old she won her first National Championship and a star was born.  With so much raw talent, many schools came calling early on and Joyce talks about how they negotiated her journey from high school to college and eventually turning pro.  

Growing up, Sue Bird was Jordin’s idol and Joyce shares what it was like when Jordin was drafted by the Storm and found herself playing side by side with Sue, the way the team embraced her and what it was like for Joyce to see her daughter playing with the best. We hear about Jordin’s overseas experience, her social activism, her two WNBA championships, what it means to be a Jordan Athlete and what makes WNBA basketball so exciting to watch.