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Good Morning America anchor and fellow women's basketball fan Robin Roberts holding her autographed copy.
Olympic Gold Medalist and WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings checking out Why She Plays
About
Why does she play basketball? Since the enactment of Title IX in 1972, that question has come to be asked of more girls and women—and answered in more ways—than ever before. Christine A. Baker, herself an avid player and an assistant coach, pursues an answer through the ranks of the sport from youth basketball to the WNBA.
Baker sets the stage with a quick look at current statistics and trends in women’s basketball nationwide, noting the profound changes in the last thirty-five years. A series of exclusive interviews then takes us into the heart and soul of the sport. Her subjects are players and coaches, from neophytes to stars such as Dawn Staley and Nancy Lieberman; from legendary coaches such as Jody Conradt to the masterminds of USA Basketball and the 1996 Women’s Dream Team; from Donna Lopiano, former CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation, to tomorrow’s Olympic athletes. A richly detailed, all-encompassing portrait of the sport, these interviews offer a wealth of insight into the game, American sports culture, and, indeed, why Baker plays.
In the Press
From Title IX, to the birth of the WNBA, to Sports Marketing, to comparisons of USA Basketball versus basketball in other countries, Christine Baker does a great job of combining her love for the game of basketball and her journalistic abilities to provide the reader with a well-rounded visual rendering of women's basketball.
Stephanie Bennett, Ph.D.
WOMEN IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY JOURNAL
I recommend this book for those interested in reading about women’s basketball from the perspective of someone whose passion stems from her own experiences as a player, a coach, and a journalist. Her writing also serves as a reminder of the immense potential for growth in this sport, and the responsibility we have as players, coaches, and fans to move forward with delicate balance.
Kendra Hunter
JOURNAL OF SPORTS HISTORY
Why She Plays is a modern women’s basketball bible with an exclusive pass into the world of the elite female athlete. Baker covers more floor in the basketball world than Candace Parker covers on game day. If you’re a fan of women’s athletics, a current or former basketball player, or a parent of a child navigating the world of youth sports, pick up Why She Plays.
Keri Mikulski
PRETTY TOUGH.COM
Christine Baker combines two rare traits: a true passion for the game of basketball, tattooed into her soul at an early age; and the ability to describe that passion with the gritty feel of the ball on a sweaty palm and the confident assurance of a born writer.
Clay Kallam
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL MAGAZINE
Book Recommendation
If you have a young girl or boy, please consider Becky Hammon: Shooting for Success. Women's basketball star Becky Hammon demonstrates strong leadership skills, determination and self-confidence to accomplish her goals. The author shares how hope and encouragement sustained Becky throughout her WNBA career. This children's biography is sure to be inspirational to all young boys and girls.
All proceeds from the sale of the book will go directly to support girls' basketball in Rapid City, SD.
Bio
Christine is an author and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in end-to-end creative solutions for an exclusive worldwide client list. She is also a non-fiction ghostwriter of several titles including an Amazon best-seller.
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She possesses wide-ranging experience developing strategic plans, branding, advertising, and PR programs, as well as writing in any medium for any purpose. She’s worked in all facets of marketing communications from graphic design and print production to high-level public relations and strategy development. Before launching CB Creative in 2009, she was a college spokesperson and senior public relations official responsible for a staff of five and a three-million-dollar institutional marketing budget. She is currently a registered website design expert with Wix.com.
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A former standout college basketball player, Christine is the author of Why She Plays: The World of Women's Basketball (University of Nebraska Press 2008). Why She Plays provides a unique perspective on the driving force of the female basketball player, from youth basketball up through the WNBA and beyond.
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The Journal News named Christine a 2008 Hudson Valley PROUD Woman of the Year and the Rockland Economic Development Commission named her as one of Rockland County’s Forty Under 40 in 2009. Mount Saint Mary College awarded her the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award for her volunteer work and professional accomplishments. The Women’s Sports Foundation named her a finalist for a Billie Award in Journalism in 2009. The Middletown Connecticut Sports Hall of Fame inducted Christine into their 2011 class for her high school accomplishments as a three-sport athlete at Mercy High School in Middletown, Connecticut. Mount Saint Mary College inducted Christine into their 2015 Athletic Hall of Fame Class for her achievements as a basketball player.
Christine received a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University and is the recipient of the University’s Rulewater Prize. She resides in Clinton, Connecticut, and enjoys cooking, gardening, and hiking.
