Kirsten Cummings attended her first National Senior Games in 2005 as coach for the San Diego Rockets and the legendary Splash. Both teams brought home gold medals and Kirsten knew she wanted her future to be with senior women's basketball.
Between the 2005 and 2007 Games, Kirsten began thinking about the need for a national organization. Following the 2007 games, she was more convinced than ever about its importance.
In early 2008, the NSWBA was officially formed - first as the National Senior Women's Basketball Academy, and soon thereafter, evolving into the National Senior Women's Basketball Association, as it is known today.
The mission of the NSWBA is to ensure that women over 40 have the opportunity to play basketball well into their senior years.
Most important, inspired by the amazing women of the San Diego Senior Women's Basketball Association (SWBA), Kirsten wanted to make sure women everywhere had the chance to benefit from the strong and supportive communities that naturally result from the growth of senior women's basketball leagues.
Audrey Pastore, one of the original directors of the SWBA (1998-2004), a current California State Senior Games Board Member, and one of the trailblazers of senior women's basketball, has been a strong supporter of Kirsten and the NSWBA since its inception.
In January 2009, Kirsten joined forces with Linda Cord, a basketball player and business consultant equally passionate about expanding the opportunities for senior women nationwide.
Sharing a similar vision, they immediately began working together to take the NSWBA to the next level by creating an experienced Advisory Board, initiating leagues in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area, forming a partnership with the WNBA's LA Sparks, and much more.
In early 2010, the NSWBA took the necessary steps to become an official charitable California public benefit corporation and started the process of becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Currently, the NSWBA is beginning to fill the newly appointed Regional Coordinator positions, and is thrilled to have the experience of senior women's basketball trailblazers Helen White as National Coordinator and Kay Seamayer on the boar of Advisory.
With the ongoing guidance and support of an experienced Advisory Board, the continued expansion of the management team, and an ever-growing volunteer base, the NSWBA has established the foundation to support the anticipated explosive growth of Senior Women's Basketball nationwide.
Dozens of women from multiple states have already joined the NSWBA in support of this worthy and amazing cause!
[Click here] to learn more about how YOU can support the NSWBA.
[Click here] to learn more about the trailblazers
of Senior Women's Basketball.
Kirsten Cummings and Linda Cord preparing to spread the word about the NSWBA
at the LA Sparks vs. the Chinese National Team game in San Diego, CA
Kirsten Cummings and Linda Cord taking a moment to have a little pre-game fun!
