As a Pacific Northwest guy, it is easy to root for this basketball phenom from eastern Oregon.
I followed her career to Louisville (along with her sister) where they were college stars – and a “feel good” story to boot. Two sisters from the “Rez” go to college and have success! Good stuff!
Some of you may know this – but in case you don’t – there was a documentary made about her basketball journey from tiny Mission, Oregon on the Umatilla Reservation to an NCAA Division 1 college. It is called “Off the Rez”. (I found it on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/UEj2WSmDFGQ)
And then, when Schimmel got drafted by the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream in the 1st round, it was great to see her take her talent to the highest level! A highlight of her professional career was being named the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 WNBA All-Star Game! Shoni put on a show with her shooting and ball handling skills that day.
Shoni has devoted a lot of time in recent years to running basketball camps for kids in Indian communities throughout the country. A few girls I know have attended her camps and found a new hero – someone who started out just like them, little girls with a basketball and a dream.
#ndnallstars #shonischimmel #wnba #basketball #umatilla
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