The Atlanta Dream is celebrating 18 years this year, and a familiar name, former WNBA President Lisa Borders, is still a major part of their support system. Borders, who served as the league’s 4th president a decade ago, was instrumental in bringing the WNBA to Atlanta, helping to launch the Dream’s first season back in 2008.
A Legacy Forged Beyond the Court
Borders didn’t just help start a team, she brought a vision to life. As she put it, she “envisioned it, and… reached out to several friends.” They called themselves “the Circle of Friends,” and together, they made the Atlanta Dream a reality. But her impact stretches way beyond that initial launch. Borders’ commitment to expanding opportunities for women runs deep, rooted in her own family’s civil rights legacy. Her grandfather, Reverend William Holmes Borders, was a civil rights leader and pastor at Wheat Street Baptist Church, a powerful family history that clearly fuels her passion today.
“All The Women in The League Are My Daughters”
For Borders, the WNBA is more than a professional league, it’s family. She calls all the women in the league her daughters, a powerful statement that shows her personal investment in their success. She’s all about creating professional opportunities for women to compete and get their talents recognized, even pointing to the WNBA’s requirement for players to complete four years of academics after high school before getting drafted. And on the recent scheduling controversy facing the Atlanta Dream? Borders says to skip the blame game. She firmly believes the focus should be on the fact that this franchise, 18 years in, has “some of the strongest talent and some of the strongest coaching it has ever had.” That’s a huge vote of confidence for the team right now, straight from someone who helped build it from the ground up.
As the Atlanta Dream celebrates its 18th anniversary, Borders’ unwavering support and vision remind us what these teams are truly about: opportunity, recognition, and a deep-seated commitment to women in sports. Her words about the Dream’s current strength should be ringing in every fan’s ears.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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