Dec 30, 2020 - Sports

Spurs' Becky Hammon becomes first woman to direct NBA team

Rebecca Falconer

Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon talks with Quinndary Weatherspoon #15 of the San Antonio Spurs against the Utah Jazz at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 07 — San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon with the Spurs' Quinndary Weatherspoon in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in August. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

San Antonio Spurs' Becky Hammon took over to direct the NBA team in Wednesday's 121-107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, after head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected minutes before the end of the second quarter.

Why it matters: She's the first woman to serve as head coach during a regular-season NBA game. The former WNBA star player has been coaching with the Spurs since 2014, when she became the first female full-time assistant coach on a major U.S. pro-sports team. Hammon also coached their July exhibition game loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Spurs' Becky Hammon becomes first woman to direct NBA team

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