April 30th 2024.
In 1982, something incredible happened in the world of women's college basketball. The Cheyney University women's basketball team, hailing from Pennsylvania's oldest historically Black college, made history by becoming the first and only HBCU to ever appear in a NCAA Division 1 national championship game. Led by the legendary Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer, this team had an unprecedented 20-game winning streak as they entered the first-ever women's NCAA tournament. Their journey to the championship game included defeating top teams like Auburn, North Carolina State, Kansas State, and Maryland.
Recently, the team was selected for enshrinement in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2024 as the "Trailblazer of the Game." This honor was a long time coming, with star player Valerie Walker questioning why it took 42 years for their induction. In an interview with NY 1, Walker expressed her gratitude but also highlighted the importance of recognizing the history of women's NCAA championships, which can be traced back to the first year of the tournament.
It is worth noting that the Cheyney University staff, headed by Stringer, is believed to be the first all-Black female coaching staff to compete in a women's national championship game. Walker, who is proud to be part of such a groundbreaking team, spoke about what this recognition means to her. "We're trailblazers because they told us that we couldn't do it. You've got to always talk about the first," said Walker, acknowledging the growing popularity of women's basketball. "You can't talk about the NCAA Final Four unless you talk about Cheyney. Had they talked about us sooner, who knows, we might be forgotten right now. But I think the moment is now with this weekend and what's to follow."
Another star player from the 1982 team, Yolanda Laney, expressed her joy at being able to see her accomplishments finally being acknowledged. Laney, whose daughter is now a star forward for the New York Liberty, believes that it's important to receive recognition while still alive. She also reflected on the impact of Stringer's coaching career, noting that it all began at Cheyney. "Cheyney was first. Cheyney is where it all began. My teammates have told her and she said it herself: she's Cheyney-made. And I know we're the No. 1 team, since it all started there at Cheyney. She won't say that, but we'll say it for her."
Walker believes that if not for the tragic death of Stringer's husband, her time coaching at Iowa from 1983-1995 may have resulted in a national championship for the school. And with the recent success of Iowa's women's basketball team, attention has been brought back to Stringer and her tenure at the university. "So then they had to go back and do their research to find out, no, Iowa was really good. Had her husband not passed, I'd say Iowa might have won a Final Four or two."
While Stringer may not receive as much recognition as she deserves, one person who hasn't forgotten her impact is South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley. In 2023, Staley wore Laney's number 44 jersey during a second-round game of the women's March Madness tournament, bringing attention to the team and their accomplishments. Laney shared that Staley told her it just felt like the right thing to do. "She just said it was the right thing to do, and it was long overdue for us as far as the history that we made 40 years ago to come to light. It meant a great deal," said Laney. "She brought a lot of light back to Cheyney's history."
The significance and impact of both Stringer and the 1981-1982 Cheyney University women's basketball team should not be forgotten. Their trailblazing achievements paved the way for future generations of women's basketball players and coaches, and their story deserves to be told and celebrated.
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