Is dunking a good thing for women’s basketball?
I thought about that last month when I wrote a blog about Candace Parker, a WNBA rookie, and Brittney Griner, a 6-foot-8 prep star from Houston. Both Parker and Griner have turned heads with their ability to dunk a basketball.
I decided to ask a few local high school girls basketball coaches the following question: Is more dunking good for women’s hoops? Here are their responses.
“Taking a charge and getting a foul called against your opponent is more important. If your mindset is on defense, that’s a bigger play anyway.”
“In men’s basketball dunks are overrated. It’s two points and so many people get caught up in the dunking part of it. To me it’s just two points.”
Ken Roberts, head girls basketball coach, Snohomish High School
“It’s the neatest thing that a girl can get out there and dunk a basketball. If I could dunk, that would be sweet. More power to (Parker).”
“It’s only going to help attract more people (to women’s basketball) because it is fundamental but it’s sometimes a little bit slower.”
Julie Martin, head girls basketball coach, Marysville-Pilchuck High School
“That would be huge for the simple fact that it brings attention to our game and just shows how athletic they are and how strong they’ve become. I think that nothing but positives can come out of it.”
Jody Schauer, head girls basketball coach, Kamiak High School
Here are a few YouTube links that show Parker and Griner slamming.
Candace Parker dunks
Brittney Griner dunks
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