FIBA Foundation Publishes Landmark Women in Basketball Oral History Report to Safeguard Sport Heritage

The FIBA Foundation has officially released its oral history report titled “Through Their Eyes: Stories of Women Who Shaped Basketball” during the FIBA Women in Basketball Forum in Berlin.

Documenting over seventy years of international women’s basketball heritage, this publication chronicles the highlights the evolution of the sport from the inaugural FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 1953 to the modern era. Conceived as a cornerstone cultural and institutional asset, the initiative preserves the lived experiences of legendary figures who helped build the global game across multiple continents and generations, reinforcing the sport’s foundational values.

The report features in-depth interviews conducted with twelve distinguished basketball pioneers, including nine esteemed FIBA Hall of Famers whose careers have left an indelible mark on international competition standards.

The contributors span diverse global territories, featuring Australian coaching luminary Tom Maher, American trailblazers Carol Callan and Teresa Edwards, European greats Jacky Chazalon, Claudine Clot-Ducommun, Natália Hejková, Maria Planas, and the late Uljana Semjonova, alongside international icons Mame Maty Mbengue, Shin-Ja Park, Laura Pina, and Maria Silva.

This publication forms a vital component of a wider FIBA Foundation initiative dedicated to celebrating women’s basketball legacy through innovative storytelling formats. Alongside the core document, the portfolio includes the graphic novel “La Valise d’Éliane,” the documentary “The World on Our Shoulders,” and a dedicated public exhibition.

Emphasising the significance of safeguarding these leadership contributions, head of the FIBA Foundation, Theren Bullock Jr., said: “Through Their Eyes: Stories of Women Who Shaped Basketball preserves and promotes the stories of legends who helped shape the game, safeguarding an important part of our sport’s cultural heritage while inspiring future generations through their experiences, leadership, and lasting contributions to the game.”

Complementing the written publication, the expanding digital “Women in Basketball hub” will progressively release open archive materials, exclusive interviews, and research articles in the coming months.

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