{"id":1200266,"date":"2024-02-07T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.washingtoninformer.com\/?p=1200266"},"modified":"2024-07-16T12:50:33","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T16:50:33","slug":"howard-university-womens-basketball-50th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.washingtoninformer.com\/howard-university-womens-basketball-50th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Howard Women’s Basketball Celebrates 50 Years of Excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Howard University athletics program decided to move the women’s basketball program from intramural to varsity, in the 1973-74 season, it came with little fanfare or vision to where it was going.\u00a0 At that time, there were no scholarships and none of the perks that today’s student-athletes have.\u00a0 Yet, there was a commitment from the late director of athletics Leo Miles and a foundation to build on.<\/p>

“When we started this program, there were a lot of unknowns, ” recalled Sylvia Groomes, the first head coach. “It was all new to us so we had to make some adjustments.”<\/p>

Reflecting on those adjustments and what it has become 50 years later, Groomes said, “Many of the young women who played in 1974 graduated and enjoyed successful careers in their endeavors. Seeing their desire to play sports was a joy to watch. There’s a tremendous sense of pride for the young ladies and coaches who have come after us. There’s been progression and the program continues to get better. We planted the seed, and seeing what Howard women’s basketball has become is incredibly rewarding.” <\/p>

Fast forward a half-century and the foundation and vision has paid off.\u00a0 Throughout those 50 years, the program has become one of the top programs in HBCU history.<\/p>