Sabrina White, M.A.

My success really comes down to a combination of purpose, preparation, and persistence. I’ve always had a bigger vision beyond just winning games. Growing up, I didn’t see many women in coaching positions, maybe a hand full. So I made a decision early on that I wanted to be that example for the next generation. That purpose has fueled everything I’ve done.

A pivotal moment in my journey was training WNBA All-Star Glory Johnson during her time in the WNBA and overseas. That experience gave me a firsthand look at what elite performance truly requires and helped elevate how I approach player development.

I’ve also been intentional about mastering every aspect of the game. Opportunities with the WNBA, Sports Business Classroom, NBA Assistant Coaching Program, and here at Cal State LA allowed me to grow beyond the court—understanding scouting, analytics, and high-level basketball operations.

At the same time, I’ve never been afraid to step into spaces where women are underrepresented. Whether it’s working with the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA or coaching at the NBA G League Elite Camp, I’ve embraced those moments and used them to grow and represent.

But more than anything, my success is rooted in relationships and development. I care deeply about helping my players grow not just as athletes, but as people. Building confidence, discipline, and leadership that will carry them far beyond the game.

At the end of the day, it’s about being consistent, staying true to your vision, and putting in the work every single day.”

My journey wasn't like everybody else's, where it wasn't cookie-cutter, there wasn't a blueprint. But with hard work, grind, and stack days; you could build yourself up and get to the vision.

The best advice I live by is simple, “if your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.”

You have to be willing to bet on yourself before anyone else does. You have to walk into spaces where you might be the only one, and still believe you belong there.

So I would tell anyone chasing something bigger:

Don’t shrink your dreams to fit your comfort zone. Grow into them.

Because the size of your dream will determine the level you’re forced to become to reach it. 

My advice is to dream big, be visible, and put in the work.

Be intentional with your growth, Representation matters. It’s powerful. It’s necessary. And it changes what people believe is possible. When young women can see someone in those positions: coaching, leading, operating at a high level; it gives them permission to believe they can do it too. I understand that it’s bigger than me. It’s about creating access and visibility.

Learn the game, build your skillset, and don’t be afraid to step up.

And lastly, bet on yourself. Even when it’s hard. Even when no one else sees it yet.

Because one day, someone is going to look at you and say, “That’s possible because she did it.” And that’s how you change the game.

It’s important to pursue education, seek mentorship, and create opportunities not just for yourself but for others coming behind you. There’s no single blueprint for success, so you have to be willing to build your own path with confidence and persistence.

One of the biggest opportunities in the field right now is the growing visibility and support for women in basketball, including advancements in compensation and recognition, especially in leagues like the WNBA. At the same time, challenges remain, particularly around underrepresentation of women in elite coaching roles. While progress has been made, there’s still a need for stronger pathways and mentorship that support women in transitioning from playing careers to coaching, management, and executive positions. Representation matters not only for visibility but also for shaping the next generation of players who will see that women belong at every level of the sport. There is also an important need to advocate for athlete health and safety, such as ensuring access to preventative care like heart screenings for athletes. Ensuring every athlete has access to preventative care: such as cardiac screenings, injury prevention programs, and consistent health monitoring; should be a fundamental part of every league’s commitment to player safety. Equally important is expanding access to comprehensive sports performance infrastructure. Too often, women’s teams operate with fewer resources than their male counterparts: limited access to elite training facilities, fewer full-time strength and conditioning staff, and inconsistent year-round support from nutritionists and mental health professionals. Bridging that gap means building systems that prioritize holistic athlete development on and off the court.

The future of women’s basketball depends on both visibility and investment. Celebrating the athletes’ skill, intellect, and impact while ensuring they have equitable access to tools for longevity and success. With continued advocacy and structural change, the sport has the potential not only to flourish competitively but also to set a global standard for how women’s sports should be supported and valued.

Mentorship, service, and helping others achieve their dreams are not just ideas for me, they are the foundation of how I try to live my life every day. Basketball is the platform, but it is not the destination. The game has given me a voice, a community, and a certain level of visibility, and I feel a deep responsibility to use all of that for something bigger than myself. When I think about success, I do not just see wins and losses or stats and accolades. I see the people I have helped, the doors I have held open, and the confidence I have helped others build in themselves.

Mentorship, to me, is sacred. It is about standing beside someone, not above them, and saying, “I see you, I believe in you, and I am willing to walk with you while you grow.” I care about creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest about their dreams and their fears. Whether it is an athlete trying to find their identity beyond the sport, a young girl wondering if she belongs in this game, or a peer navigating their own leadership journey, I want to be the kind of person who listens, who challenges with love, and who shows up consistently. There is nothing more rewarding than watching someone you have poured into step into their own power.

Service is how I stay grounded. It reminds me that this is not just about my story. It is about community, access, and impact. I think a lot about the people who never had someone in their corner, and I want to be a counterpoint to that experience. Service can look like formal programs and initiatives, but it also shows up in the small, everyday moments. Taking extra time after practice to talk with a player, sending a message to check in on someone’s mental health, or using my perspective to advocate for better resources and safer environments. All of that is service. It is not about being seen doing it, it is about knowing that you are intentionally pouring into something beyond yourself.

Helping others achieve their dreams is where my passion burns the brightest. There is a unique joy in watching someone accomplish something they once thought was out of reach and knowing that you played even a small role in that journey. I get emotional about that, because I know what it feels like to be that person with a dream that seems too big, too distant, or too unlikely. To be in a position now where I can say “You can do this, and here is how I will support you” is something I do not take lightly. My goal is not to create versions of me, it is to help people become the fullest, truest versions of themselves.

Being a visible example for the next generation is also deeply personal to me. I want young people, especially young girls, to see someone who loves the game, works hard, and leads with heart, but who is also human, multifaceted, and real. I want them to see that you can be competitive and compassionate, driven and kind, ambitious and grounded. Visibility matters, because sometimes you need to see someone who looks like you or thinks like you to fully believe that your dreams are valid.

At the center of all of this is a commitment to staying true to who I am. The more you grow, the more opportunities and opinions come your way, and it can be easy to drift away from your core. I never want to lose my genuine desire to uplift others or start seeing people as a means to an end. I want my impact to feel authentic, not performative. That means constantly checking my intentions, staying connected to my “why,” and surrounding myself with people who hold me accountable to my values.

In the end, basketball is a beautiful part of my story, but my purpose is bigger than the game itself. I want my legacy to be measured in lives touched, confidence built, and opportunities created. If years from now people can say that I helped them believe in themselves, that I made rooms feel safer and more inspiring, and that I used my platform to lift others higher, then I will feel like I truly lived out the values that matter most to me.