Now, through his determination and an unyielding love for the game, Brickley’s become one of the most sought-after fitness trainers working with NBA superstars across the League, including Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell, Carmelo Anthony, Paolo Banchero, Cole Anthony and more.

Over the years, Brickley’s Black Ops Basketball, an elite training destination has become the go-to spot for your favorite NBA players to train and compete. Located in Midtown Manhattan, the facility trains athletes at every level, including high school, college and the pros.

Amidst all the accolades and recognition, Brickley is just as focused on supporting and empowering his community through basketball. He recently helped renovate the same basketball court where he got his start, Wolfe Park, in his hometown of Manchester, NH.

“I spent countless hours training on this court to develop the skills that I now share with athletes and fans,” Brickley says. “My hope is that this space can now become a home to others determined to reach their goals both on and off the court.”

Located at Wolfe Park Harvell Road, Manchester, NH, the new courts were unveiled on July 15, which is also now proclaimed as Chris Brickley Day by the city’s mayor, Joyce Craig. It features a two-court setup with the words “Brickley Believes the World is Yours” on each of the two courts and “Chris Brickley Court” at the center circle.

In addition to the proclamation of Chris Brickley Day, the event also featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a basketball clinic for attendees.

As he continues to cement his legacy as one of the most distinguished trainers in the game, his impact goes well beyond the hardwood. With a court named after him, Brickley is empowering the next generation of future hoopers, trainers and entrepreneurs, all while setting the example that they, too, can ascend to the same heights he’s reached and beyond.

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Chamique Holdsclaw was wrapping up her junior season with the Lady Vols, leading the team to their third consecutive championship and first ever undefeated season (39-0). This was just the beginning: she went onto finish her collegiate career as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at Tennessee and is one of just five women’s collegiate players to ever amass more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 assists and 300 steals.

Following Chamique’s illustrious career, she entered the professional stage with high expectations. And then it happened. She was selected No.1 in the 1999 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics and by the spring of ’98, she became the first women ever to grace the cover of SLAM.

The SLAM 29 cover story, which you can read in the SLAM Digital Archive, went a little something like this…

So, when the boys would run, Holdsclaw would watch. When they would leave, Holdsclaw would play one-on-one with her new best friend, and before long, the other guys saw that a girl actually had game.

Holdslaw is also playing ball at 1 a.m., just because the lights are on at the court near her house in Astoria, Queens. And just because she know that running with the locals won’t be too cool this time next year, once the contract has been signed and the shoe deal is done.

The future and its opportunities are mind-boggling. The fat contract and the shoe deal are the easy parts. Her talent, success and grace make her a perfect candidate for the same kind of high-profile endorsements Jordan secured when he entered the League.

Defying expectations and shattering glass ceilings is something Chamique has done throughout her career from stunning the boys at the street courts in Astoria, Queens where she grew up to being named to the US Olympic team in just her second season in the League and helping her team grab gold. Appearing on the cover of SLAM 29 marked a shift in not just the recognition but the acceptance of women’s basketball into mainstream culture. It represented a collective triumph for women’s sports by placing emphasis on the dedication, determination, and immense talent of female athletes—proving that they, too, are deserving of the same appreciation.

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The cover served as a catalyst for important discourse surrounding equity in sports and shed light on the value that comes with embracing diverse narratives. Today, Chamique continues to be a beacon of hope and a testament to the transformative power of representation in the game.

You can read this story and more in the SLAM Digital Archive, which has every copy of SLAM, ever.

The post WSLAM Archive: Looking Back at SLAM 29 and How Chamique Holdsclaw Redefined the Game appeared first on SLAM.