Hammon calls coaching debut 'substantial moment' but wanted win

Becky Hammon made history Wednesday night by becoming the first woman to act as head coach in an NBA game, but she would have preferred to see the San Antonio Spurs secure a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I would have loved to have walked out of there with the win with the guys," Hammon told reporters after L.A.'s 121-107 victory in San Antonio.

Hammon took the reins when Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected after a technical foul with 3:56 remaining in the second quarter.

"Obviously, I mean, it's a big deal," Hammon said. "It's a substantial moment. I've been a part of this organization, I got traded (to San Antonio's former WNBA team) in 2007, so I've been in San Antonio and part of the Spurs and (this) sports organization with the Stars and everything for 13 years.

"So I have a lot of time invested, and they have a lot of time invested in me, in building me and getting me better."

Hammon joined Popovich's staff in 2014 and has since risen to a lead assistant role. The 43-year-old previously earned six WNBA All-Star appearances as a player and became the first woman to helm a Summer League squad.

"Any player who knows the history of woman's basketball knows what she meant to the sport," Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan said Wednesday, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. "You don't think twice about it. She's one of us. When she speaks, we are all ears."