For the head coach vacancy, the Toronto Raptors have been granted permission to interview with Hammon, who won the 2022 WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces. In the annals of North American sports history, Hammon would be the first permanent female head coach of a men’s professional team if she were to take the position.

Following their April 21 split from Nick Nurse, the Toronto Raptors have begun searching for a new head coach. One of the most well-known figures in professional basketball, Becky Hammon, is on the shortlist of favored candidates for the post, which is the customary first step in the hiring process. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski made the list public.

According to Wojnarowski, the Raptors have already been given permission to interview Hammon for the position. If Hammon accepts the offer, she would become the first permanent female head coach of an NBA franchise, making history once more.

Our thorough analysis below contains more information about Hammon, including her journey to the NBA and her many accomplishments.

Head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, Becky Hammon (2022, Getty Images)

The Raptors have selected Hammon for their shortlist not because of her gender but because of her great coaching abilities and accomplished playing career.

Growing up, Hammon attended Stevens High School in Rapid City, South Dakota, where she participated in basketball. After winning the South Dakota Player of the Year award her senior year, she continued her basketball career at Colorado State University, where she broke multiple records (points scored (2740), assists (538), and three-pointers made (365). She was nominated for three All-American teams, and she finished third in the Western Athletic Conference scoring standings, surpassing nine-year NBA veteran Keith Van Horn.