Walking Tall: Ruth Riley's Take on Life in the WNBA
By Amy Hammond Hagberg
At first blush, Ruth Riley is nothing short of intimidating. A hair under 6' 5" and weighing in at 198, the veteran center for the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars is a powerful force. While it is the goal of every professional athlete to earn a coveted championship ring, most never attain it. Now with four career championships under her belt, Riley has serious bragging rights. She also has some things to say about teamwork and handling life at center court.
In September 2006 the Detroit Shock brought home the championship trophy by defeating the Sacramento Monarchs 80-75 in the fifth and deciding game of the finals. But it was a hollow victory for me. Personally, I didn’t play as well as I wanted to. The first half of the season, I (statistically) had the best start of my career—unfortunately, it only lasted till All-Star break . . . then the up-and-down roller coaster began.
 A lackluster performance can be a real blow to a basketball player’s confidence. As my shooting percentage began to decrease the second half of the season, the first battle was to stay confident. That’s easier said than done when you are constantly getting heat about your game. I received more criticism about my game that season than any other year—and rightfully so—because I didn’t produce the way I am capable of. I am grateful that my self-worth and confidence don’t come from what is being written or said about me.
Since I was missing the mark in my shooting, I concentrated on finding other ways to contribute to the team: setting screens, distributing the ball, and playing solid defense. Sometimes the success of the team requires you to step back and play a different role. If your pride gets in the way, then the ultimate success of the team is in jeopardy.
Staying confident has been a lifelong problem for me. Throughout my school days in the tiny town of Macy, Indiana (population 380), I towered over my peers. It was never something I was comfortable with. Growing up, I was constantly being made fun of, because I was this lanky, shy girl who just happened to be taller than everyone else. There probably isn’t a tall comment I haven’t heard by now. Can you believe people still say, “How’s the air up there?” and think it’s funny?
Growing up, everyone assumed I would be a basketball whiz kid. But when I started playing in fourth grade, natural talent eluded me. Since my skills and coordination came later in life, I was left with a lot of expectations that I couldn’t quite live up to. As a result, I spent a lot of time on the bench throughout junior high. My mother taught me about perseverance throughout my childhood, so I worked hard to turn things around.
One of the great things about playing in the WNBA is that it has a relatively short season, typically May to September. That means there’s a seven-month off-season when players can pursue another career or go back to school. I use much of my free time to volunteer. I’m a national spokesperson for Nothing but Nets, a global campaign to prevent malaria, which is a leading cause of death for children in Africa. I’ve also traveled to Kenya and Mali as part of a healthy women campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.
I also have a real passion for literacy. In 2005 I was asked to write a children’s book for the Read to Achieve program, a joint venture of the NBA and WNBA. The league-wide initiative promotes the value of reading through learning centers around the country. The Spirit of Basketball teaches the lesson that the game of basketball is universal. After my career in basketball is over, I’d love to be an author.
Every day I strive to be a better player, a better person, and a better teammate. I may not always feel like I’m having a great season by stats alone, but I do feel a sense of accomplishment and a sense of success when I look at the way I’ve handled conflict and adversity. I now have the ability to go out and play without the fear of losing or worrying about what people will say about me. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to have a sense of peace and confidence, play as hard as I can, and then leave it on the court.
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