Hall of Fame coach and current WNBA GM, Lin Dunn, has left an undeniable legacy in women’s basketball, recently honored as a 2024 Outsports Power 100 honoree.
Last Sunday, the Barclays Center was packed as the New York Liberty edged out the Minnesota Lynx in an electrifying WNBA Finals overtime showdown, capping a landmark year for the league. In attendance was Indiana Fever General Manager, Lin Dunn, who has dedicated 54 years to the sport.
At 77, Dunn’s journey began in an era when girls were banned from playing interscholastic sports in Alabama, leading her family to move to Tennessee for more opportunities. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1969, just before the rise of women’s teams and three years ahead of Title IX.
Dunn started her coaching career in 1970 at Austin Peay State University, leading multiple sports teams and fighting for women’s rights in sports through the pre-NCAA era. Title IX brought challenges, including budget battles and societal stigmas. Dunn, who didn’t come out until later in life, refused to cut a player suspected of being gay, a defining moment in her career.
Her coaching highlights include leading Purdue to seven NCAA tournaments, and later, the Indiana Fever to their first WNBA championship in 2012, with stars like Tamika Catchings under her leadership. After briefly retiring in 2014, Dunn returned as GM for the Fever in 2022, guiding the team back to the playoffs.
Reflecting on her impact, Dunn said, “Wherever I worked, I left it better than I found it. The team got better, the players got better, and I made a lasting impact.” Now, as she nears her 55th year in the sport, Dunn plans to retire, leaving a legacy that will inspire future generations.
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