Becky Hammon's Success and Achievements in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 13, 2026

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Becky Hammon.

Becky Hammon is a trailblazing basketball figure who transitioned from a standout playing career to a historic coaching path. After a decorated career as a WNBA All-Star and point guard—notably with the San Antonio Silver Stars—she became the first woman to be hired as a full-time assistant coach in the NBA, joining Gregg Popovich’s staff with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Her tenure with the Spurs saw her break barriers, including becoming the first woman to serve as a head coach in an NBA Summer League and the first to act as a head coach during a regular-season NBA game. In 2022, Hammon returned to the WNBA as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces. She immediately cemented her legacy by leading the franchise to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023, firmly establishing herself as one of the most successful and influential coaches in professional basketball history.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1998: 1998-99 Season Success and WAC Scoring Record

During the 1998-99 season, Becky Hammon led the Colorado State Rams to a dominant 33–3 record and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In 1998, she was named the WAC Mountain Division Player of the Year and officially surpassed Keith Van Horn as the all-time leading scorer in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

1998: 1998 William Jones Cup Gold Medal Win

In 1998, Becky Hammon was selected to represent the United States at the William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan. Competing under coach Nell Fortner, Hammon contributed 18 points across five games, helping the team finish with an undefeated record and secure the gold medal.

1999: Receipt of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award

In 1999, Becky Hammon was honored with the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, recognizing her as the premier senior basketball player in the nation under 5 feet 8 inches tall.

2001: Lisa Boyer Serves as Volunteer Assistant Coach

In 2001, Lisa Boyer worked as a volunteer assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers and John Lucas, marking the first time a woman held such a role in the NBA.

2003: NWBL Scoring Leader

During her 2003 inaugural season with the Tennessee Fury in the National Women's Basketball League, Becky Hammon demonstrated exceptional skill by leading the league in scoring with an average of 20.6 points per game.

2003: Ascension to Starting Point Guard

Following the conclusion of the 2003 season, Becky Hammon successfully transitioned into the role of the New York Liberty's starting point guard, replacing veteran Teresa Weatherspoon.

November 12, 2004: Induction into Colorado State University Sports Hall of Fame

On November 12, 2004, Becky Hammon received a significant honor by being officially inducted into the Colorado State University Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of her collegiate athletic achievements.

2004: Appointed Team Co-Captain

In 2004, Becky Hammon was named a co-captain for the New York Liberty, sharing leadership responsibilities with teammates Vickie Johnson and Crystal Robinson.

January 22, 2005: Retirement of Colorado State Jersey Number 25

On January 22, 2005, a major milestone occurred at Moby Arena where Becky Hammon's iconic number 25 jersey was officially retired by Colorado State University to honor her legacy at the school.

August 16, 2005: 2,000th WNBA Career Point

On August 16, 2005, Becky Hammon reached a significant career milestone by scoring her 2,000th career point in the WNBA.

2008: Becky Hammon's 2008 WNBA Season with the Silver Stars

During the 2008 season, Becky Hammon demonstrated exceptional performance by averaging 17.6 points and 4.9 assists per game, leading the San Antonio Silver Stars to a league-best 24–10 record. Her contributions were pivotal in the playoffs, including a 30-point game against the Sacramento Monarchs and a 35-point effort to eliminate the Los Angeles Sparks, ultimately guiding her team to the 2008 WNBA Finals where they finished as runners-up to the Detroit Shock.

2008: Olympic Bronze Medalist

In 2008, Becky Hammon competed for the Russian national basketball team at the Summer Olympics and successfully secured a bronze medal for her team.

2008: 2008 Olympic Basketball Performance

In 2008, Becky Hammon represented the Russian national team at the Olympic Games, where she helped secure a bronze medal by scoring 22 points against China after a semifinal loss to the United States.

2008: Becky Hammon's Russian Citizenship and National Team Shift

In 2008, after being passed over for the U.S. national team, Becky Hammon opted to pursue a roster spot on the Russian national team for the Beijing Olympics. During this same year, she officially became a Russian citizen, a move that sparked significant debate among basketball commentators in the United States. Additionally, she signed a three-year contract extension with CSKA Moscow, where she played during the WNBA off-season under coach Igor Grudin.

2009: 2009 WNBA Season Performance

During the 2009 WNBA season, Becky Hammon recorded a career-high average of 19.5 points and 5.0 assists per game, earning selections as both an All-Star and to the All-WNBA First Team.

August 31, 2011: Reaching 5,000 WNBA Career Points

On August 31, 2011, Becky Hammon achieved a significant career milestone by becoming the seventh player in the history of the WNBA to score at least 5,000 career points.

August 5, 2014: Hired as Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs

On August 5, 2014, Becky Hammon made history by being hired as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the second female coach in NBA history.

2014: Hiring by the San Antonio Spurs

In 2014, Becky Hammon made history by being hired by the San Antonio Spurs as the first female full-time assistant coach in a major American sports league.

July 3, 2015: First Female NBA Summer League Head Coach

On July 3, 2015, Becky Hammon made history by being named the first female head coach in the NBA's Summer League after the San Antonio Spurs announced she would lead their summer league squad.

July 20, 2015: Summer League Championship Victory

On July 20, 2015, Becky Hammon cemented her place in basketball history by leading the San Antonio Spurs to the Las Vegas Summer League title, marking the first time a female NBA head coach won a Summer League championship.

August 2, 2015: Induction into the New York Liberty Ring of Honor

On August 2, 2015, Becky Hammon was officially inducted into the New York Liberty's Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony. This honor was bestowed upon her in recognition of her significant contributions to both the team's legacy of excellence and the broader growth of the WNBA.

June 25, 2016: San Antonio Stars Retire Becky Hammon's Jersey

On June 25, 2016, the San Antonio Stars honored Becky Hammon by officially retiring her No. 25 jersey during a ceremony held before their game against the Atlanta Dream.

2016: First Female NBA All-Star Coach

In 2016, Becky Hammon made history by becoming the first woman to serve on an NBA All-Star Game coaching staff.

December 30, 2020: Becky Hammon becomes first female acting head coach in NBA history

On December 30, 2020, following the ejection of Gregg Popovich during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Becky Hammon stepped in as acting head coach, marking a historic moment as the first woman to hold that position in the NBA.

2021: NBA Head Coaching Finalist

In 2021, Becky Hammon made history by becoming the first woman to be named a finalist for an NBA head coaching position after interviewing for the head coach role with the Portland Trail Blazers.

2021: Departure for Las Vegas Aces

In 2021, Hammon left the San Antonio Spurs to accept the head coaching position for the Las Vegas Aces, becoming the first WNBA coach to earn an annual salary exceeding $1 million.

2022: First WNBA Championship Win

In 2022, Becky Hammon made history during her inaugural season as head coach by leading the Las Vegas Aces to victory in the WNBA Finals, becoming the first rookie head coach to secure a WNBA title.

August 12, 2023: Induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

On August 12, 2023, Becky Hammon received high recognition for her storied career as both a professional basketball player and a coach by being formally inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

2023: Basketball Hall of Fame Induction

In 2023, Becky Hammon was officially recognized for her exceptional professional playing career by being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

2023: Back-to-Back WNBA Championships

Throughout 2023, Hammon successfully led the Las Vegas Aces to repeat as WNBA champions, marking the first time in 20 years that a coach achieved back-to-back league titles.