Wednesday was supposed to be a day off for the University of 蜜柚直播 women鈥檚 basketball team.
But when you鈥檙e the head coach of a college program in a Power 5 conference, like Adia Barnes is, there is no down time 鈥 especially in the middle of a season.
While her players took a day to rest, Barnes and her staff were working. Associate head coach Sunny Smallwood and assistant coach Morgan Valley were back on the road recruiting. Assistant coach Salvo Coppa was in town, but making recruiting calls.
And Barnes, well, wasn鈥檛 taking it easy.
Her morning consisted of watching film and prepping for the next four days of practice before Sunday鈥檚 home game against San Diego State.
Over lunch she inspired another group of UA women 鈥攖hose who work at the university during the Women鈥檚 Leadership & Empowerment Luncheon, the first in a series presented this year to 鈥渆xamine, promote and empower women鈥檚 leadership and action on the UA campus.鈥
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Wednesday鈥檚 session focused on 鈥淏uilding Community and Bridging the Gaps.鈥
The women鈥檚 basketball program is a sponsor for this series and Barnes takes pride in using her platform to help other women and provide these sessions.
She spoke to more than 100 women (and a few men)about her experiences and the women who mentored and believed in her. Those who have had the most impact on her life are former UA women鈥檚 basketball coach Joan Bonvicini and Barnes鈥 mother.
鈥淢y mom always believed in me and I learned work ethic, even my stubbornness from her,鈥 Barnes joked on Wednesday. 鈥淢y mom is my biggest fan. She knew I鈥檇 be successful even before I did. Of course, she also believed I was better than) former Seattle Storm teammates) Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson.
鈥淟ooking back, something drew me to Joan. Years later, I realized that it鈥檚 because both my mom and Joan share the same birthday and are both Italian.
鈥淛oan is the woman who saw something in me that I didn鈥檛 see in myself. She shaped my life and who I am today. All the (career) steps I鈥檝e taken 鈥 going pro, going into broadcasting, becoming a coach 鈥 I鈥檝e called her. She has been my rock. Without her believing in me I wouldn鈥檛 be here. She even texted me last night after our loss.鈥
Barnes says she鈥檚 been fortunate to have others, like Seattle Storm co-owner and former Microsoft CEO Lisa Brummel and former WNBA player and coach and current Sacramento Kings assistant coach Jenny Boucek, in her corner.
Many others aren鈥檛 as lucky. The number of women coaching women鈥檚 sports has decreased since 1972, when Title IX was enacted. This law prohibits discrimination against girls and women in federally funded education, including in athletics programs; it gives access.
Today, 40 percent of all women鈥檚 college sports are coached by women. In 1972, the number was closer to 90 percent.
There are many reasons for the drop-off. Wednesday鈥檚 participants talked about the scarcity of good jobs.
Barnes also brought it back to a fundamental difference between men and women, one that starts early and is taught.
鈥淥ne thing I鈥檝e noticed from coaching is confidence,鈥 Barnes said. 鈥淚 see it when I鈥檓 running a camp for fifth-to-ninth graders. When I ask the girls who wants to become a professional player only a few raise their hands. When I ask the same question to boys that age, all the boys want to do it. They can be the worst player and still think they will go pro. When I ask my team this question only a few will say it. They think they might be seen as cocky. While men with no experience in coaching will apply to coach at Ohio State.鈥
Another point raised was the pressure on women to do it all.
鈥淎 man leaves on a trip and his kids are at home with his wife,鈥 Barnes said. 鈥淚 have to spend time with my son, watch film, and call my players back at night, and sometimes I鈥檓 sending emails at 2 a.m. It鈥檚 hard. I鈥檓 exhausted trying to be a good coach, a good mom, and a good wife. If I didn鈥檛 have support I couldn鈥檛 do it.鈥
One person Barnes relies on is her husband, Coppa, who was one of those few men in the room Wednesday. Spend a little time around the women鈥檚 basketball offices, and you鈥檒l see them sharing the parenting duties.
Barnes joked that she鈥檚 finally learning to let go of certain things so she can spend more time with her son, Matteo.
After the luncheon, Barnes attended UA president Robert Robbins鈥 installation, set up time to watch film with senior Kat Wright the next morning before practice, and ensured a student manager had his assignment for his office time.
Then it was off to pick up Matteo at school, take him to the dentist and swimming, call players back and respond to all the emails and texts that came in while she was off, and get ready for the next day.
