#FromtheArchives: Remembering Billie Moore
Join us *tonight* to talk about the legendary coach, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 79.
Hi, friends. Today we got the devastating news that legendary basketball coach Billie Moore passed away on Wednesday night at her home in California at the age of 79 years old.
Moore won two national championships as a collegiate coach, leading Cal State Fullerton to the title in 1969 and winning the AIAW championship with UCLA in 1978. She also served as the head coach of the U.S. national team in 1976, and led the U.S. to a silver medal at the ‘76 games, which was the first year women’s basketball was contested in the Olympics.
*****Coincidentally, in just one hour, at 7:00 p.m. ET, Power Plays is hosting a zoom call with Mary Anne O’Connor, a player on the 1976 team, and Andrew Maraniss, the author of “Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team.”
This is the link to register to join the event, it is on zoom and open to all.***
We will be celebrating Moore’s life together, and learning more about her legacy from two people who know her well. I hope you can come!
A replay will be available for paid subscribers to Power Plays. If you’re not a paid subscriber, I hope you’ll consider becoming one! We’re currently having a sale, and subscriptions are 34% off. It also makes a great holiday gift for the women’s sports fan in your life.
For a comprehensive look at Moore’s career and impact, I recommend that you read “Inaugural Ballers” and this beautiful remembrance by M.A. Voepel over at ESPN today.
But, in true Power Plays fashion, I went searching through the newspaper archives for feature that I think you’ll love. Here’s Ron Rapoport on the “mellowing” of Billie Moore:
I always love #fromthearchives and this was definitely a fun one, despite the sad context.
Thanks for the post and discussion tonight. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I appreciate you shining a light on the book and the 76 Olympic basketball team.