Former WNBA Player Briann January Reflects on Her First Season as a Coach in the League
Key points:
- Former WNBA player Briann January reflects on her first season as a coach in the WNBA.
- The success of former players as coaches in the WNBA is not by accident, thanks to league incentives.
- The 2023 WNBA season saw two former players serving as head coaches in the finals for the first time in league history.
Former WNBA player Briann January reflects on her first season as a coach in the league, stating that transitioning from playing to coaching on the sidelines was aided by her familiarity with the game and the team. January retired after the 2022 season and joined the coaching staff of the Connecticut Sun. She credits the success of former players as coaches in the WNBA to the league’s rule change allowing teams to have three paid assistants, as long as one is a former player. January emphasizes the importance of competing and finding inspiration as a coach.