Every year, women’s basketball continues to make an impact in the sports world. The WNBA just celebrated its 25^th anniversary of being created. For Kendra Rainey, basketball is more than just a sport. Rainey began her career in 4^th grade in San Antonio, Texas. She’s no stranger to the game as her mother played on a travel team on a military base during her childhood years. “I was that little girl running onto the court while the teams were trying to play,” Rainey describes. By the time she could handle a basketball, her mother created a team for her and her older brother so that she could coach them both. Throughout elementary school, basketball was the main sport Rainey participated in at recess and P.E. She played on a youth basketball team consisting primarily of boys, playing with and against older boys on the military base. Rainey soon fell in love with the game. She crafted her skill set, soon realizing she was outworking those around her. As high school arrived, Rainey was committed to the game.

In college, Rainey got a feel of what it truly meant to be a student-athlete. Rainey described how balancing classes and athletics wasn’t always easy, but it had to be done. “I think student-athletes are trained and taught to manage multiple things at once. I learned at an early age that if you want to be good at multiple things, you have to learn how to prioritize the most important things; everything else comes after,” quotes Rainey. She expressed how important school and basketball were for her as she wanted to play in college to get her education paid for. The hard work paid off in a long run. In her undergraduate years at Austin College, Rainey double majored in Communications and Media Studies, graduating Magna Cum Laude. After graduation, she put her knowledge to use by writing for different schools and districtsand, handling sports coverage. With the opportunity to play ball through (and even after) college, Rainey vouches that basketball has made such an impact on her life. “I’m so blessed to have developed a love for the game when I did,” Rainey states. “I grew up indulging in something I loved from my childhood through my young adult years.”

There’s always one person that inspires every athlete to continue their game and go for their dreams. Rainey states that her mother, her first-ever coach, has inspired her the most when it comes to the game. “Growing up, my mother was my first role model,” says Rainey. “Not only did I admire her as a mother, but also as an athlete – a talented, female athlete at that. I grew up watching her play on different teams and in different sports, like basketball and softball.” Rainey shares how her mother inspired her to play multiple sports growing up – basketball, softball, volleyball, and track. Her mother also lead her to watch two basketball legends that would soon end up being her role models in basketball: Maya Moore (4x WNBA Champion for the Minnesota Lynx, social justice activist) and Dwyane Wade (3x NBA Champion for the Miami Heat, part-owner of the Utah Jazz). Both players have inspired Rainey to become an all-around player.

Rainey explains that she hopes to see women’s basketball continues to increase; she sees basketball transitioning from being a primarily male sport to a sport in that women are accepted and appreciated to the extent they should be. “I think it’s so dope to see women in the WNBA playing, getting married, having babies, and continuing to play afterwards,” said Rainey. “I also love watching women gain higher positions in sports, especially on the men’s side. It’s so cool to watch as our world makes changes for women in sports. I just hope to see more changes for equality to come,” Rainey concludes.

Every athlete has someone that looks up to them for advice. Rainey details two pieces of advice to those that want to take the game seriously: “First, success comes to those who work hard. And second, love the game, but do not let it define you. It’s so important to know and love who you are outside of a game or passion.”

Rainey’s story is different than most. “I played at a small high school that many people don’t know of. My AAU days were with a team that was created by one single man who loved basketball. Growing up, the teams I played on did not get much exposure, and my parents weren’t able to get me to the places I needed to be to get seen. When it came to getting recruited by college coaches, I did everything on my own,” Rainey explained. “After games, I collected stat sheets to send in. My dad would record my games so that I could create my highlight reels. I researched the schools I was interested in at every level (NCAA D1-3 and NAIA) and reached out. I started receiving offers and had to make my choice. This is how I was able to play in college,” Rainey explained. This process is usually done by professional recruiters or coaches, making Rainey’s story different than most athletes.

“I am 100% a go-getter. If I’m determined to do something, I’ll put in all the work to get to it. It’s worked for me in my life and this has taken me to places I would not be without the hard work and determination.”

To learn more about Kendra Rainey and her journey, follow her on Instagram: kendraarainey_.