Resch (r) said that the true success will come when NBA teams hiring women isn't considered newsNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Raptors President Masai Ujiri said the team has gone from one to 14 female staffers since he was hired in '13, something he is "damn proud of," according to Lori Ewing of the CP. On the anniversary of the founding of the Toronto chapter of WISE (Women in Sports and Events), Ujiri was "joined onstage" by Raptors VP/Basketball Operations & Player Development Teresa Resch, MLSE CMO Shannon Hosford and Raptors Manager of Africa Scouting Sarah Chan. Ujiri said, "There’s nothing like showing (success) right in front of you, and I think Teresa, Shannon and Sarah really proved that, the 14 women who work for the Raptors proved that. They were not hired because we wanted to hire women, they were hired because they’re the best at what they do." Ewing noted the NBA has "set the standard for gender equity among North America’s four major sports leagues, although progression is moving slowly." Resch said that true success "will be when a women’s hiring isn’t 'front-page news.'" Ujiri agreed: "At some point, I’m telling you it’s going to become normal. We’re going to stop all these stories and stop making a fuss or big deal about any woman being hired. It will be completely normal that they’re everywhere" (CP, 1/22).
