Dr. Maya Angelou has authored twelve best-selling books including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and "All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes." She is a Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University, and in January 1993, she became only the second poet in history to take part in the U.S. Presidential Inauguration.
"I think what she stands for is incredible, and I just admire her work. I think she’s so talented and very inspirational. And her books and her poetry, everything that she’s ever written always has a meaning behind it. And I think she’s very strong and independent, and that’s the kind of woman that I want to be. I think she’s incredible."
Do you think of yourself and the WNBA as a part of women's history?
"I do. I really do. I don’t think a lot of people seven years ago probably would have imagined that the WNBA would still be around today. And for so many young girls out there who ever dreamed of playing professional basketball, now they can look up to us and see that if I work hard and if I believe in myself, it is possible, there is the WNBA. They don’t necessarily have to go overseas to continue their professional basketball career.
"I think what we’ve done in the WNBA is very historical, and it’s just a wonderful opportunity for all of us. And hopefully ten years from now, when I’m maybe owning a team or in some kind of way I’m involved with the WNBA, I’ll be able to look back on it and say it’s because of all of the things that I’ve done, everything we sacrificed then is the reason why the WNBA is still around and hopefully will be around for awhile."
