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Sporting Witness, Sporting Witness, Ryneldi Becenti - Native American basketball hero

Sporting Witness

Sporting Witness

Ryneldi Becenti - Native American basketball hero

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May 19, 2022

9 minutes

Available for over a year

It's 25 years since Ryneldi Becenti became the first Native American to play in the women's NBA when she made her debut for the Phoenix Mercury. Basketball is a big sport on Native American reservations and success made Becenti a hero in her community. In 2019, Lucy Burns spoke to Ryneldi Becenti about her career and her challenging family background.

Photo: Ryneldi Becenti playing for Arizona State University (courtesy Arizona State University)