Rebekkah Brunson

Brunson set the career mark for rebounds in the Finals, with 130, breaking the record held by former teammate Taj McWilliams-Franklin.

Later on in the 2017 season, Brunson became the first player in league history to win 5 WNBA championships, as the Lynx defeated the Los Angeles Sparks in five games, avenging the previous year's Finals loss.

The Lynx finished 18–16 with the number 7 seed and lost in the first round elimination game to the Los Angeles Sparks, ending their streak of three consecutive finals appearances.

She then played for USK Praha, with which she won the Czech League title (4–2 vs BK Brno) and reached the Women's Euroleague Top 16.

[18] Brunson established and manages the 32 Foundation (named for her jersey number), which sponsors academic and athletic opportunities for youth in the metropolitan DC area.

[21] Brunson and her wife own and operate Sweet TrooVī, which began as a Belgian waffle food truck inspired by Brunson's time playing professional basketball in Belgium and has since evolved into a mission-driven company offering authentic Liege waffles and gourmet plant-based cookies distributed at both local and national levels.

[22] Rebekah Brunson is not only celebrated as one of the greatest players in the history of the WNBA but also stands as a powerful figure in the Black feminist movement.

Through her achievements on the court, business ventures, and advocacy work, Brunson exemplifies the principles of Black feminism, particularly in how it promotes intersectionality, empowerment, and resistance to racial and gender oppression (Collins, 2000; Lorde, 1984).

Brunson’s ability to balance her multifaceted roles as a professional athlete, coach, and advocate mirrors the broader struggles and triumphs of Black women who continually redefine narratives of strength and success.

By venturing into entrepreneurship, Brunson challenges the limiting stereotypes that confine Black women to certain roles, particularly in sports, and instead carves out a space where she can exercise autonomy and foster community support.

Brunson’s involvement in organizations aimed at empowering Black youth illustrates this intersectional approach to activism, where personal experience is leveraged to enact social change.

By doing so, Brunson embodies the tradition of Black feminist activists who have long emphasized the importance of using one's influence to advocate for broader societal transformation (Collins, 2000).

By breaking records, building businesses, and actively advocating for social change, Rebekkah lines with the work of Bell Hooks –which asserts that reclaiming one’s narrative is a powerful act of resistance against the dominant structures that seek to silence marginalized voices.

Young woman with braided hair dyed light brown wearing a purple headband and purple jersey standing in a huddle
Brunson in 2006
Woman wearing yellow jersey facing away from camera, Brunson apparently just completed a pass
Nneka Ogwumike guards Brunson in 2016
Thomas and Delle Donne wearing bright red uniforms attempt to squeeze Brunson out as she emerges between them
Brunson evading Krystal Thomas and Elena Delle Donne in the 2017 WNBA playoffs
Brunson as an assistant coach before 2024 WNBA Finals Game 1
Brunson after setting all-time rebound record in 2018