Women’s basketball history took the spotlight as “The Assist” brought players and legends together at Temple University to celebrate the game’s roots and trailblazers.
“Can’t Retire From This” is a four-part documentary series produced by former basketball player and DMV native Melanie Page. The documentary series was created to highlight and honor the history and the legends of women’s basketball, specifically in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area.
“This is a love story of basketball, and I want there to be more love and more representation, and that starts with going back into the history,” Page said. “If we don’t tell the history now, then who will?”
The “Can’t Retire From This” project hosted “The Assist,” an event to highlight some of the greats of women’s basketball in Philadelphia. The event took place on Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Howard Gittis Student Center.
Page began the night by hosting a live podcast with the second all-time leading scorer and Temple Hall of Famer Marilyn Stephens, as well as former professional basketball player Lynn Arturi-Chiavaro.
During the podcast, they discussed their time playing basketball in Philadelphia, how the women were treated compared to the men, and how women’s basketball has evolved over the decades.
Arturi-Chiavaro spoke directly to Temple’s Women’s Basketball Team, who were in attendance, and told them not to take the opportunities they have for granted.
“The game has evolved, there’s no doubt about it,” Arturi-Chiavaro said. “I was lucky to play when I played, but I wish I could play now.”
Page gave the audience a teaser of her current project, an episode centered around basketball in the Philadelphia area, before showing the full DMV episode. The episode focuses on basketball culture in the DMV area, where Page grew up. It features interviews from several women’s basketball icons such as Temple Women’s Basketball Head Coach and DMV native Diane Richardson, 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones, and former Los Angeles Sparks player Penny Toler.
Page sat down with Fox 29 sports anchor and Temple Alum Breland Moore, Philadelphia native and long-time basketball coach Yolanda Laney, and Richardson to talk about the weight and impact that the documentary holds. They mentioned the significance of women’s basketball history and how that history and this documentary are needed to propel the sport to new heights and inspire the youth.
“I am floored by what Melanie has done in showcasing what women’s basketball has done. I think it’s important for everyone to understand that, especially my players,” Richardson said. “It’s important for them to understand the people that laid that foundation and opened the doors for them, and all of the things they can achieve through dribbling a basketball.”
Laney has watched as the sport grew since she appeared in the first-ever NCAA women’s basketball Division I championship in 1982. She holds a strong passion toward the sport and sees the importance of Page’s mission. Laney announced that she would pledge $1,000 to “Can’t Retire From This” to help spread Page’s mission. Richardson quickly mimicked the gesture.
Page hopes to create an episode for every city with a WNBA team. The WNBA has grown significantly over the past few years and continues to grow with an expansion team set to reach Philadelphia in 2030. Page hopes to reach and inspire as many young girls as possible.
“With that representation and why ‘Can’t Retire From This’ is the series that is becoming, it’s because I want to create more young girls that have that vantage point that I was privileged to have as a kid,” Page said. “We had season tickets for the Washington Mystics. We didn’t go to the Wizards games. We went to the Washington Mystics.”