Spurs' Hammon: 'Whether it's basketball, or CEOs, or in operating rooms, we want women there'

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Although it's not necessarily her intention or purpose, San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon is a pioneer.

Hammon became the first woman to serve as head coach at a Las Vegas Summer League game as her Spurs lost to the New York Knicks on Saturday.

After the game, Hammon spoke about the importance of gender equality, as relayed by Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.

I just think it's important for society that women (are) rewarded for their brains just as much as any guy.

Any people that have a young girl, or a wife, or whatever - to me it's about the bigger picture.

You want to make sure when your wife or your daughter goes in for a job interview, she gets the same opportunity as a guy gets.

That's the bigger picture. Whether it's basketball, or in CEOs or in operating rooms, we want women there. I think statistics will tell you it does pay off to have a woman in the mix.

Hammon makes a tremendous point about the inequities that exist between men and women. The gap is shrinking, but it's a tough climb, and gender inequality still manifests across many economic, social, and educational indicators.

In basketball, Hammon becomes a historical footnote as one of hundreds to coach in summer league. But in the grander scheme, Hammon joins millions across the world who are working towards breaking the barriers that divide our society. And that - not coaching in summer league - was Hammon's great accomplishment Saturday.