Trailblazer Honored: Valerie Still Recognized with Lifetime Achievement Award for Defining Women’s Basketball
In a powerful celebration of excellence, leadership, and legacy, University of Kentucky legend Valerie Still has been recognized with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring her profound impact on women’s basketball. The award, presented during the 2025 National Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Summit in Knoxville, Tennessee, cements Still’s status not only as a sports icon but as a pioneer who helped shape the landscape of the women’s game.
Valerie Still’s basketball résumé reads like a legend: the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in University of Kentucky history—male or female—Still carved out a career defined by dominance, consistency, and trailblazing vision. From the early 1980s when she wore the Kentucky blue, she didn’t just play basketball—she redefined it.
“Valerie Still didn’t follow a path. She cleared one,” said WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes during the award ceremony. “She played with courage, led with compassion, and inspired a generation of young women—especially young Black girls—to believe there was a place for them in the game.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award, given annually to individuals who have had an enduring impact on women’s basketball, is reserved for those who transcend stats and accolades. This year’s committee, comprised of former players, coaches, media members, and historians, voted unanimously to honor Still.
“Valerie represents the essence of what this award stands for,” said committee chair Denise Maxwell. “She shattered barriers, uplifted others, and built bridges that still stand strong today.”
Still’s story is one of grit, grace, and generational pride. Born into a family with deep roots in American history—she is the great-great-granddaughter of abolitionist William Still—Valerie carried that legacy into everything she did on and off the court. Her book, Raised by the Movement, chronicles not just her journey in sports, but her journey through identity, social justice, and womanhood.
On the court, her stats are staggering. From 1979 to 1983, Still scored over 2,700 points and grabbed more than 1,500 rebounds—both school records that remain untouched. She led the Wildcats to three postseason appearances and was twice named to the All-SEC First Team.
Following college, Still played professionally overseas and later in the American Basketball League, one of the precursors to the WNBA. She also became a vocal advocate for gender equity in sports, often speaking about the challenges faced by female athletes and pushing for systemic reform in how women’s sports are marketed, funded, and respected.
In her acceptance speech, Still reflected on what the award meant not just for her, but for every woman who dared to believe in her dreams.
“This isn’t just about me. It’s about the young girl who picked up a basketball when she was told it wasn’t her place,” Still said. “It’s for the mothers, daughters, sisters, and teammates who believed in something greater than the game—who believed in purpose.”
The evening closed with a standing ovation as former teammates, players she mentored, and fans lined up to express their gratitude. As the lights dimmed, the message was clear: Valerie Still is more than a basketball player—she is a cornerstone of the game’s history.
Her name may be etched in the record books, but it now also stands carved in the hearts of everyone who understands what it means to break barriers, blaze trails, and lift others while doing it.
Valerie Still didn’t just play the game—she changed it forever.
