The late Bill Russell once said, “No. I’m not a basketball player. I’m a man who plays basketball.” He was declaring that his profession doesn’t define him. Another influential baller who has embodied that mantra is Ruthie Bolton. Much like Russell, she had a love for the game, but the game wasn’t the totality of her being.
On the floor, Bolton was a player who led by example and was coachable in every way. She worked tirelessly to master her craft and did whatever it took. Those traits empowered her to basketball excellence at the collegiate, international and professional levels.
As a player at the University at Auburn in the late 1980s, she led the team to four NCAA Tournament appearances and two national runner-up finishes in 1988 and 1989. She parlayed that success to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, winning two Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000. Bolton was an integral part of the 1996 team that is credited with helping to launch the WNBA. A team that featured future Hall of Famers Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Rebecca Lobo who steamrolled their way to the gold medal in Atlanta.
Bolton played in the WNBA from 1997 to 2004 with the Sacramento Monarchs. Elected to first-ever All-WNBA First Team in 1997 and a two-time All-Star in 1999 and…
