The Kenya Morans Basketball coach, Liz Mills, became the first woman to coach a team at a men’s continental championship.
The Australian descent led Kenya at the AfroBasket 2021 which is still ongoing in Kigali, Rwanda.
Mills guided the Morans to victory over Mali which saw them qualify for the quarter-finals; however, they got pushed out of the ongoing FIBA Afrobasket Championships after falling to South Sudan 60-58.
Despite not making the cut, LIz Mills’ men gained the respect and admiration of everyone in Africa for their undying spirit as they played their hearts out against South Sudan.
The female coach did not only lead a man’s team in the toughest tournament in Africa but also championed a cause for women as many young girls and women have reached out and stated that she is a role model that they need.
“I’m trying to be as visible as possible, even though I don't like social media,” stated Mills.
“I’m trying to get myself out there and be as visible as possible for women and girls to say,’If Liz can do it, I can do it’ and especially in an environment like this. The Afrobasket is heavily male-dominated, so I want them to see another woman doing it. They can do it. The glass ceiling has been shattered,” stated Mills.
Mills hopes that her experience will help other women receive fair consideration when they try to get top jobs in men’s sports.
Through Mills, Kenya was able to qualify for their first AfroBasket qualification in 28 years as they beat Angola 74-73 in the African Qualifiers on February 20, 2021.
She also dedicated her achievements as a female coach to her twin sister, Victoria, who was with her in Kigali, Rwanda.
“I wouldn't be here where I am today without my sister. Also, I appreciate my friends and family who urged me to keep on pushing, especially when I failed to qualify with Zambia in 2017 and thought I wasn’t going to coach anymore, they were the people that picked me up,” concluded the coach.
Being ousted from the AfroBasket championships, attention for Mills' charges now shifts to the FIBA World Cup African qualifiers slated for November 2021.