Since the fifth grade, Trisha has had a basketball in her hand. Growing up in a town with a strong women’s basketball program, Trisha was exposed to athletic girls at a young age. “I remember being in sixth or seventh grade and going to the state tournament games [for the women’s basketball team] and definitely feeling that that was something I wanted to be involved in in high school,” said Trisha, thinking back on her inspiration to play. “I think as I went through high school, that’s where I set my sights on ‘Wow, I could play this game in college and have it be part of my college experience.’ So that was the ultimate goal for me at the time.”

Upon graduating from high school, Trisha went on to play basketball for the Harvard University Crimson. For the past 16 years, she has devoted herself to coaching at both the high school and college level. As an active female athlete, Trisha has seen a number of changes for women in sports over the years. “The opportunity to play and get involved is greater now,” she said. “The final game of the NCAA [women’s college basketball] tournament would be on TV and that was a huge deal back then. Now you can turn on ESPN during the women’s basketball championship and see every game.”

By the time Erika Stupinski, senior captain at Stonehill College, started playing basketball, things were very different for her. Inspired to play sports by her athletic older brother, Erika did not struggle quite as much being a girl with athletic ability. “When I started playing [basketball] it [the team] was co-ed,” said Erika. “So I did play with boys, but I was one of the only girls that was playing. I think there was a little bias there, but not as much as you would think. That may have happened earlier or before I was there.”

According to Trisha, the application of Title IX, or the Equal Opportunity in Education Act, to sports has really changed the way that women are received in this arena, at least at the college level. “Most universities and colleges have men and women’s basketball,” said Trisha. “If it’s a scholarship program, you’re getting the same amount of scholarship. So at the college level, I think there is now an equal opportunity for men and women.”

Indeed Erika’s own story of recruitment sounded fairly similar to many men I have interviewed on the same subject. “I was playing AU so I think the recruiting process really started my freshman year,” said Erika, explaining the process that brought her to Stonehill. “I was playing in tournaments where college coaches are watching your games and stuff. You start getting letters from these coaches asking for general questionnaires and stuff. Sophomore and junior years, more of these coaches would be coming to more of your games…When you see the college coaches there watching you play and you know that you’re interested in going to their school…there’s definitely pressures in trying to make sure that you’re playing well.”

Trisha concurs that the recruiting process is fairly similar and girls are now facing the same challenges that boys are facing in this ever competitive environment. “Student athletes are starting to get exposure at a younger and younger age now,” said Trisha. “They need to get their information out to colleges so that we have an opportunity to see them play. At the division one level, by the time young women are seniors in high school, the recruiting is almost over. They need to get involved in the process at an earlier age.” Of course with prepchamps.com recruiting is a little bit easier now. At prepchamps.com high school athletes and coaches can upload profiles, pictures, videos and stats for college coaches to review and assess their talent.

Even though things have changed a great deal for high school and college sports, Trisha points out that the opportunity for women to play basketball after college is still more limited than it is for men. Prior to the advent of the WNBA, women who wanted to continue their basketball careers after school had to look to join leagues overseas. But in 1996, the WNBA was formed. With seven teams in the Eastern and Western Conference, the WNBA is providing a good, but limited outlet for women to continue their basketball careers in the U.S. “I think the WNBA has done well,” said Trisha reflectively. “They’re increasing their number of franchises this year, but I haven’t seen tremendous growth in the WNBA. Where I think people anticipated that there would be more growth at this point… I don’t think post-college, the opportunities for really talented female student athletes are the same as the men have.”

Many point to the fact that women’s basketball is not like men’s basketball, which could account for the difference in opportunities. Trisha acknowledges that there is a difference when it comes to the way one coaches a women’s basketball team and the way such a team works together. “There’s an emotional side to women’s basketball,” Trisha explained. “The chemistry part of women’s basketball is definitely different than guys. When you coach women, there’s definitely a need to connect with their teammates. That’s part of the success in a women’s program.” 

While this may affect the way Trisha assesses a player’s qualifications, it does not change the way the game is played; that is still about the basics. “You need to have a good fundamental skill set,” Trisha said emphatically. “Can you handle the ball? Are you a good shooter? Those kinds of things. Then after that, you go to, ‘Can this particular student athlete play at our level—which is division one?’ There’s all sorts of levels and opportunities at college.”

So with opportunities growing everyday for girls, there really is no reason why student athletes should not be getting out there and applying for scholarships. According to Trisha, there is a program for every type of person who wants to play sports. “There are so many opportunities out there to be involved in sports in college,” enthuses Trisha. “They should get out and do some research because it is a wonderful experience. It enhances your college experience immensely if you can be involved in sports.”