Women make up just a fraction of professional basketball referees, coaches and owners. A St. Louis woman is doing her best to change that. Khalia Collier is owner and general manager of the St. Louis Surge, the region’s only professional women’s sports team.
In her eighth season at the helm of the team, Collier is also the newest commissioner of the Global Women’s Basketball Association, a league of five teams that creates a space for players to have careers beyond collegiate, amateur and professional play.
In running the Surge, Collier — who started the team at 23 years old, now 31 — makes a point to hire women for her front office and emphasizes education among her players. Every team member has a bachelor’s degree, and about half of the team are postgraduates. Check out the full story.
By Andrea Henderson, St. Louis Public Radio