Going First
by Mariah Burton Nelson  

I spent this past weekend in Chicago at the 25-year reunion of the WBL, the first women's pro basketball league in the United States. About 150 former players, coaches, owners, and family members attended. We reenacted the first tip-off. We played a game, ripping rebounds as if we were still 22. (I've recovered from the surgery I mentioned last month -- thanks -- but didn't play; I don't have the knees for hoops anymore.) After an ibuprofen break, we watched archival video of ourselves, laughed at short shorts and long hair, and agreed that -- despite recent strides in coaching, equipment, and weight training -- we had been good!

The WNBA representative who attended was kind enough not to argue with us. And smart enough not to recruit us.

At the reunion banquet, I had the privilege of addressing my teammates. I talked about the role of the pioneer. Pioneers go first, exploring new territory. Their work rarely leads to fame or fortune. They usually don't get thanked. (In our case, Karra Porter, fan and author of the forthcoming "Mad Seasons: The Story of the First Women's Professional Basketball League, 1978-81," thanked us with this incredible reunion gift.) But by going first, by braving pain and indignities (long bus rides, bounced checks, and charm school come to mind,) pioneers expand our ideas of what's possible.

Our league lasted three seasons. A few days before our reunion, the first women's pro soccer league in the United States (WUSA) folded after three years. (A week later the league announced that it hopes to resume play as soon as next year.) Someday, Kristine Lilly, Julie Foudy, and Mia Hamm might attend a 25-year reunion of the WUSA, kick around some balls, laugh about old times, and reflect on how they inspired millions of girls.

What does this have to do with you? Maybe you're a pioneer too, or will be. Maybe you're trying to do something that has not been done before (such as finding a cure for AIDS), or not much (loving someone unconditionally), or not by you (running a marathon). If so, you might feel scared or misunderstood or unappreciated, as pioneers often do. But go for it. Twenty-five years from now, you'll be glad you did.

Point #1: It's not easy going first.

Point #2: Pioneers redefine who we are and who we can be.

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The Stronger Women Get, The More Men Love Football