From her playing days to the front office, Penny Toler is a WNBA pioneer.

Sparks General Manager Virginia “Penny” Toler is known for a string of WNBA firsts. First to score a basket in the WNBA’s inaugural game, first to transition from the “court” to the “executive suite” as General Manager, and first to dethrone the four-time Houston Comets. Yet, she still believes that unless young African-American athletes realize the value of education and excellence ‘off the court’ those “firsts” will be just another line in history books.

Widely recognized as the first player to score a basket in WNBA history, Virginia “Penny” Toler began her career with the Los Angeles Sparks as the starting point guard in the League’s inaugural game on June 21, 2997 at the Great Western Forum. Originally allocated along with Lisa Leslie, as one of two Los Angeles franchise players, Toler retired from professional basketball in November 1999 with a combined 12 years overseas and WNBA playing experience to become the second the second general manager in team history. Primarily responsible for player personnel and strategy, Toler accomplished in just two years what no other general manager in WNBA history had been able to do. Assembling a championship caliber team that would eventually dethrone the four-time WNBA champion Houston Comets, Toler and the Sparks delivered the first-ever WNBA Championship to the city of Los Angeles.

In addition to scoring the first basket In WNBA history, Tolers’ professional career has been an impressive one. Named to the USA Basketball Olympic Committee in her first year as general manager, Toler has already become an integral component in the USA’s quest for an unprecedented fourth gold medal in 2004.

A businesswoman by nature, Toler began her “Points From Penny” program in 1998 to teach youth in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas areas, the fundamentals of basketball, the importance of teamwork and the value of competition. “Points” consisted of a series of basketball clinics personally instructed by Toler for boys and girls ages 7-14. The program was nominated for several awards during its tenure, including the American Express Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. Since that time she has focused on bringing the same type of community oriented programs to the Sparks front office. Developing the teams first-ever Academic Basketball Skills Clinic, Toler created a program that emphasized the importance of academic as well as physical success. Over 150 students attended the clinic that allowed college and career counselors from local universities the opportunity to speak with students about the delicate balance between education and sports. In addition, the entire Sparks team and coaching staff were on hand to instruct participants in various aspects of the game’s dynamics. In its second year that same program featured over 300 students.

As a believer in the power of education, Toler supports the notion that both parents and educators need to instill the benefits of athletics, on and off the court, early on in children. “Athletics teach children of all races to set and achieve their goals, be strong-willed, and have self-esteem,” says Toler. “These skills will help them compete in the professional environment, and for youth of color, will help them learn to deal with the covert discrimination of our time. Sports have the ability to motivate and motivation equals success.”

Toler will be honored for her transition from the court to the executive suite during the Torrance Chamber of Commerce African American Heritage Celebration Friday, February 28. Aptly titled The Professional Spirit award, Toler has been recognized for her many accomplishments and commitment to excellence following her basketball career. Previous award recipients include, 2003 presenter Reggie Theus, former Laker All-Star James Worthy, Olympic great Rafer Johnson and baseball legend Tommy Hawkins.

The average consumer is bombarded by over 300 advertising images a day, many of which glorify high-salaried professional athletes and ignore other areas of achievement by athletes of color. “When you look at other avenues or professions, like law, medicine, engineering, whatever the case may be, I think it’s just not as glamorous a vocation as something on TV everyday where people are paying big money to watch you play and participate in that lifestyle,” remarks Toler. “For children, they see this image of a person and then say ‘Well, I want to be like Mike’….How many guys in the pros make millions a year from playing basketball? It’s one in a lifetime.”

Toler believes that equal devotion to athletic and academic pursuits is the key to motivating all young athletes but particularly youth of color. “Parents, teachers, business persons, professional athletes, and other mentors need to establish value on athletics and academics. Young athletes need someone to tell them it's okay to be a great athlete, but you need to have balance, this is reality…here's the real world.”

Toler is a native of Washington D.C., her hobbies include real estate investment and working with underprivileged youth and battered women’s shelters.