Hoop Muses: An Insider’s Guide to Pop Culture and the (Women’s) Game

by Seimone Augustus, Kate Fagan, Sophia Chang (Illustrations)

“In vibrant color and style, Hoops Muses tells the vital stories that celebrate the history and tradition of our game.” —Sue Bird, WNBA legend

Hoops Muses is an homage to the game, bringing style and flair to all the details, moments, and people who have shaped the collective world of (women’s) hoops.

Hoops Muses will take us through time – literally. We begin in the future, in 2072, on the night of the WNBA’s 75th Anniversary, as New York Liberty phenom Jacklyn Jones is paid a visit by one of basketball’s long-ago ( wink, wink ) greats. This unlikely duo then goes on a sweeping, roundtrip adventure through basketball history, starting at the very Springfield, 1891. As the years pass, they learn the roots of the game ( the first-ever collegiate game between Stanford and Cal, where men scaled the walls for a peek inside, or, the legend of Chicago’s Club Store Co-Eds, the all-Black barnstorming squad of the 1930s). AND as the early 20th century morphs into modern times, they see the game grow, the milestones reached. On their journey, they learn about the teams and the women (along with a few men) who helped build the foundation on which  The Future  will be

-Fort Shaw and the 1904 World Championship
-Pat Summitt and the early years of the Lady Vols 
-Delta State, featuring Margaret Wade and Lusia Harris
-Cheryl Miller and Hollywood’s USC Trojans
-UConn-Tennessee and the “Sliding Doors” moment that sparked their rivalry

Plus, they have front-row seats to a whole lot of quirky, blissful fandom, including …

The Movies That Should Have Been
WNBA Jam
The Moments
The Shots

To be a (women’s) hooper is to be part of a long and proud tradition … but one not often celebrated in popular culture. Hoops Muses is here to change that.
 

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, History, Basketball, Womens

256 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2023

Reviews

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year I fell in love with women's basketball was 2021. I had just read Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back: Dilemmas of the Modern Fan and decided to use the authors' advice of how to get into the WNBA. I started to watch games, dipping a toe into the water and learning as I went along, but when the underdog Chicago Sky, led by the hometown hero and league legend Candace Parker, stormed the playoffs and secured the championship in game 3 while I screamed at the television screen, I knew the game had my heart.

So while I played as a kid and have always had an appreciation for the basketball, I still consider myself a novice.

That's why a book like this one appealed to me. It's a gorgeously illustrated, high-level overview of the women's game in the United States and is suited to readers of all ages. Would I have enjoyed if it went a bit more in depth? Sure. But as a new fan looking to learn more about the important events and figures that preceded the WNBA, it was a great learning experience for me.

Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome book! Such a great way to learn the history of the game. It’s got short bios of everyone who impacted the game, lots of tidbits of info and a great overall picture of how the game came to be what it is today. Excellent job, ladies!

[John Lustrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for those looking for an overview of women’s basketball history. It does a fabulous job of giving the highlights while seamlessly telling people where you can find more information if you want. Plus the essay in the middle is a brilliant exposition on why people think they don’t watch women’s sports and why they actually don’t.

It’s such and joyful read! I can’t recommend this highly enough.

[Paris Chanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally. I’ve been waiting for a book like this centered on women’s basketball for so long. Fun, inspiring, and nostalgic.

[Alison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love basketball, you need to read this book. The audiobook is great!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I have been wanting and needing since I was twelve and fell in love with basketball. History is told through the lens of smaller stories and moments although a larger narrative emerges of the incredible adversity that the women's game has had--and continues--to endure. Wonderful illustrations and well-told stories. I LOVED this book and can't wait to discuss it with my basketball crazy 13-year-old who is reading my copy now.

[Con · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really like the concept of this book, though like the women’s soccer one i just read, i wish for something less coffee-table like and something that’s an actual book. i don’t really care for the framing device of the wnba player for the future, and a lot of the pull quotes seem like they’re just there to take up space. is it not crazy to dedicate a whole chapter to a rapist who had barely anything to do with the w?! especially looking at some of the things left out. BREANNA STEWART?!?! HOW DO YOU SKIP OVER THE BEST COLLEGE PLAYER IN HISTORY?! like i know they can’t talk about everything, but some of the things they gave chapters to over her.. ijbol. i did like the chapters particularly about like.. pre-2010s but after that my knowledge started to surpass the books so it was kinda like meh to read. especially it being slightly older now, some of the things left out seem baffling. a’ja wilson isn’t a top 25 player ever? i’m not even a fan but like 😭 and the comic about how “the [fictional] shot in 2051 is better than tspoon’s” is soooooo extremely outdated like ouuuu look at who underestimated sabrina ionescu.. still would recommend & i liked the focus on history but i want something more in depth and serious about wbb to exist alongside books like these.

[Rob Breen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well researched deep dive on women’s basketball both pro and college. I loved the section on fellow Montclair grad (and Caitlin Clark of the 1970s) Carol Blazejowski, I learned my hometown Dayton, Ohio had a pro basketball team in 1978-79 in the precursor to the WNBA and there was a section on KP’s NCAA points record.

Best of all, this book came out JUST BEFORE the Caitlin Clark era began. Which makes this a perfect historical time capsule for where we were pre-Clark so we have a great counter point to measure from.

I wasn’t into basketball yet when this book came out, but it’s fascinating to see where the world was right before I joined the fan base.

[John Schorg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely necessary history of women's basketball, told in a most engaging manner. The names that often are lost are rightfully included here: Wayland Baptist, Immaculata, and Delta State, to mention three. It's the kind of book that you wish had more on so many personalities. I wanted more on Becky Hammon, but this book compelled me to seek out a wonderful ESPN article Kate Fagan wrote about their time as teammates. I would hope this book inspires others to investigate more about many of the people profiled here.

[Kenny McKernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. I’ve been a fan of the W since Sabrina Ionescu was drafted by NY. Since then I have always wanted to learn more about the history of the league. This book instead gave me the history of the entire women’s game and it was even better. Illustration was also superb and made for a really fun read. Learned a lot. It does kinda feel like this book came out a year or two too early. It’s missing out on the 2023 free agency period, Vegas v NY super teams, and of course the evolution the game has taken since Caitlin Clark. But hey I would love a sequel 👀

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all the best history books, Hoop Muses was extremely engaging, informative and educational, and created with such clear love for the game. I loved it! And while it is not the exhaustive history of women’s hoops, it is the perfect compendium for new fans and old. The only times I wanted to put it down were when I thought “there might be a WNBA game on! Lemme check!”

[Jeff Wait · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect overview of the history of women’s basketball. Very thorough and insightful. The intermission addresses how to respond to the lame excuses why people don’t watch the WNBA. Just knocked it out of the park. My only gripe is the somewhat corny time travel stuff, but that barely affected my reading experience.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was so good! I am one of the new fans to the W and this book really gave me such a great way to learn the history, I looked up a lot of the videos and photos as I read and it’s so cool to read about players who are still playing and connect them with what they’ve done for the game. I cried a bunch of times while reading this!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my 2023 March Madness choice and it was fabulous. Not only is the history narrative really strong but also there’s a strong and compelling basketball vibe throughout the entire book. The pictures compliment the text and must be seen even if you are Rea finding an ebook.

[Mitchell Haskins]

Yeah idk. This was fine. I don’t get the constant praising of Kobe, especially in a book that is made to highlight the successes of women. He wore an orange hoodie, so we forget about Colorado? Also not their fault but a lot of this became immediately outdated after CC and A’Ja blew up.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cool book with a neat concept and art design. As it mostly features a lot of vignettes surrounding the history of women’s basketball, it didn’t go into much depth regarding any topic, and it would be interesting to hear from other sports journalists on what was excluded.

[Lorene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. As a longtime basketball fan, even I learned a ton from this book. The illustrations were fantastic!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, even for someone who hadn't paid much attention to the W. Appears that was a mistake. Stakes and storylines for the win.

[Camie Didion · Rating 4 out of 5]

On my way to becoming less of a basketball poser👍🏼

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
This book was so enjoyable and I learned so much. Wish some stories went a little more in depth and sometimes found the not strictly chronological order confusing

[Lauren Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much and enjoyed the learning! Women's hoops forever!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrates and makes the case for women's sports--and the fact that we shouldn't be making a case at all.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reminder of just how fantastic women's basketball really is... if you're not watching, you're missing out.

[Troy Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ball is Life 🏀

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

mixes nonfiction with comics.
a lot of information to take in.

[Heather Bushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know what to tell you guys I love women’s basketball!!!