A New Chapter Begins at Bojangles Arena
The sold‑out crowd at Bojangles Arena erupted as the Charlotte Crown took the court for its inaugural home opener, a moment that reverberated through the city’s sporting history.
The roots of women’s basketball in Charlotte stretch back to the first decades of the 20th century, when the sport was still a novelty. Just a few years after James Naismith invented the game, Senda Berenson adapted it for women, and by 1907 teams from Elizabeth College and Presbyterian College scheduled the city’s first intercollegiate matchup. Those early contests laid a foundation that would be built upon by generations of pioneers, from Gladys Thompson and Elva Bishop in the 1920s to the legendary Mildred Little, who became the region’s first female All‑American in 1953.
The passage of Title IX in 1972 forced schools to allocate equal opportunities, and at UNC Charlotte Judy Rose answered the call by launching the university’s first women’s basketball program in 1975, later rising to become its long‑time athletic director. The policy sparked a renaissance, allowing talents like Andrea Stinson to shine at North Mecklenburg High, where she captured two state titles before earning All‑American honors at NC State in 1990 and 1991.
A decade later, Konecka Drakeford earned the distinction of being named the best high school player in the country by The Charlotte Observer in 1993, while Charlotte Smith delivered the iconic “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in the 1994 NCAA title game, propelling UNC Chapel Hill to victory. The following year the NCAA Women’s Final Four descended on Charlotte, turning the city into a temporary epicenter of the sport.
The professional era arrived with the launch of the NBA‑backed WNBA, and the Charlotte Sting, owned by the Hornets, entered the league as one of its original eight franchises. After a rocky start, the team engineered a spectacular turnaround in 2001, winning 17 of 21 games and clinching a playoff berth with an 18‑14 record, a feat that reignited civic pride.
Today, Charlotte Crown stands on the shoulders of that storied lineage, fielding a roster that includes emerging stars such as Ivory Latta and Tiffani Johnson, while veterans like Dawn Staley and Anne Donovan lend their experience as mentors. The team’s home opener at Bojangles Arena not only celebrated a victory but also honored the trailblazers whose names still echo through gymnasiums across the region.
A Legacy That Keeps Growing
As the city looks ahead, the story of women’s basketball remains a living narrative, one that blends historic triumphs with future ambitions. From the early pioneers to the current generation of athletes, the sport continues to shape community identity and inspire the next wave of champions.