Month: October 2024

Categories
Basketball Navajo NDN All-Star Info NDN All-Star Profile NDN All-Stars Firsts

“FIRSTS” – NDN All-Star #46 Ryneldi Becenti, Basketball Pioneer

NDN All-Stars "FIRSTS" Header - Ryneldi Becenti

It’s time for another installment of NDN All-Stars “Firsts”.

In today’s blog post, we are featuring women’s basketball pioneer NDN All-Star #46 Ryneldi Becenti (Navajo). As a member of the Navajo Nation, she became the first Native American woman to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Becenti’s basketball career started at Window Rock High School, where she quickly stood out. Her skills earned her a scholarship to Scottsdale Community College, and later to Arizona State University (ASU). At ASU, she became a team leader and earned All-Pac-10 honors. Her performance in college showed that she could compete at the highest levels of women’s basketball and set the stage for her professional career.

In 1997, Becenti made history by signing with the Phoenix Mercury, becoming the first Native American woman to play in the WNBA. Even though her time in the WNBA was short, it was groundbreaking. She inspired many young Native American athletes who saw her as a role model and a path to their dreams in professional sports.

After her time in the WNBA, Becenti played professionally in France, Sweden, and Greece. (Imagine – a kid from the Navajo reservation travelling around the world playing the game she loves!) Her international career showed her versatility and skill as a player and her ability to adapt to different styles of play. She was known for her excellent ball-handling, court vision, and leadership. These qualities made her a valuable player and a trailblazer in women’s basketball.

Beyond her basketball achievements, Ryneldi Becenti has contributed significantly off the court. She works to promote sports and education among Native American youth – speaking and coaching at clinics and camps. Her efforts to give back to her community and inspire the next generation of athletes reflect her commitment to using her platform as a basketball pioneer for positive change. NDN All-Star #46 Ryneldi Becenti’s legacy is not just her basketball career but also her role as a pioneer and advocate for diversity in sports. Her story shows the impact one person can have in breaking barriers and inspiring future generations.

 

 

Bill Black, founder of NDN All-Stars with his father, Bill Black, Sr. (Quah-Lee-Lah).
Bill Black(l), founder of NDN All-Stars with his father, Bill Black, Sr.

Bill Black is the creator and “General Manager of NDN All-Stars, celebrating great Native American athletes past and present.  He is a first generation descendant of the Okanogan Band of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and resides in Omak, WA.

#NDNAllstars #RyneldiBecenti #Navajo #WNBA #basketball #PhoenixMercury

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue to retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please visit our Patreon page.

Thank you for your support!

 

 

Categories
Chippewa Hockey Video Archeology

Video Archeology – “Michigan Mountain” – NDN All-Star #61 Taffy Abel (Chippewa)

NDN All-Stars "Video Archeology" Movie Of The Week graphic

“Michigan Mountain” – NDN All-Star #61 Taffy Abel (Chippewa)

I just came across this great documentary on YouTube called “Michigan Mountain – The Taffy Abel Story – Pt 1”, and I think you’d really enjoy it. It’s about NDN All-Star #61 Taffy Abel (Chippewa), the first Native American athlete to play in the National Hockey League.

Taffy Abel grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and he was a giant on the ice – like, literally huge for his time, standing at 6’1″ and over 200 pounds. (That’s actually how he got the nickname “Michigan Mountain.”) But what really stood out to me was how graceful and skilled he was despite his size. The documentary goes into his early life and how he became a key player for the U.S. Olympic hockey team in 1924, becoming the first Native American to compete in the Winter Olympics, where they won a silver medal. He was also the first Native American to play in the NHL, which is a huge deal. He played for iconic teams like the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, and made a huge impact on the ice.

One thing I really like about this video is how it dives into the historical importance of Abel’s career. Being a member of the Chippewa tribe, he broke many barriers at a time when Native Americans weren’t really recognized in mainstream sports.

The documentary isn’t just about his hockey career, though. After he retired, he went back to his hometown and became a successful businessman, which I thought was a great thing to highlight. He didn’t just fade away after his career; he kept contributing to his community. There’s a humility to his story that I found really touching.

I’ll admit, the production quality isn’t the fanciest. It’s a mix of archival footage and interviews with hockey historians, his family, and experts on Native athletes, so it’s more informative than flashy. But honestly, that didn’t matter to me because the story itself is so strong. The film really makes you appreciate how much Taffy Abel accomplished in a time when the odds were stacked against him.

If you’re into hockey history or stories about athletes overcoming big barriers, I’d really recommend checking this out. NDN All-Star #61 Taffy Abel’s story deserves way more recognition than it gets, and this documentary does a great job of honoring his legacy. I think you’d enjoy it just as I did!

(P.S. – I hope Part 2 comes out soon!)

 

 

Bill Black, founder of NDN All-Stars with his father, Bill Black, Sr. (Quah-Lee-Lah).
Bill Black(l), founder of NDN All-Stars with his father, Bill Black, Sr.

Bill Black is the creator and “General Manager of NDN All-Stars, celebrating great Native American athletes past and present.  He is a first generation descendant of the Okanogan Band of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and resides in Omak, WA.

#NDNAllstars #Chippewa #Hockey #TaffyAbel #Olympics #VideoArcheology #NHL

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue to retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please visit our Patreon page.

Thank you for your support!