*CORRECTIONS*: As some in the comments have pointed out, SMS played in the Missouri Valley Conference, not Mississippi Valley...I had it right everywhere else, not sure why my brain glitched and said Mississippi. Also JQH arena wasn't built until a few years after Jackie left, that arena was Hammons Student Center. Apologies for the errors. 🙏 If you like the video and want more about Jackie, there is a full Jackie Stiles documentary will be available to stream on these platforms on August 30th!! AppleTV: tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-jackie-stiles-story/umc.cmc.5fut7nbf1w7kvb5ry7ia4rqr9 Amazon Prime Video: amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B8T1H7NY Vimeo: vimeo.com/736924226 For a hard copy DVD order via this link: Link here: geni.us/TheJackieStile
I’m just curious, if she really was the star of the ncaa and was too good to be true. How come on draft day she was not even taken at no.1 or even a top 3 pick
She put her little body through so much. She had the heart but the body could not sustain the constant torment she put it through day in and day out. She was the definition of pure will and determination.
Jackie Stiles knocked out my alma mater in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament in 2001. She was a scoring machine, and she made the Final 4. She was a BEAST.
@@freemanpense2782 that's a dumb take. competition is competition. with that line of thinking why would anyone watch any college ball when the nba is better?
@@FtGFAHe clearly didn’t play any type of competitive sports no matter how talented you may be or delusional in reality there is level the game of sports and no matter what tier or gender in game performance is WILL and ALWAYS show for itself. And if you’re a professional player you were atleast nothing less then a Four star recruit in perspective.💯
I went to high school in Claflin but was much younger than her, by the time I was in high school she was already a year out of the WNBA. Having gone to school there I naturally heard all the stories about her as well as walked through the "hall of jackie" every day outside of the gym. She really still is such an inspiration to that town even to this day. And her entire family are some of the nicest, kindest people I have ever known. Her father was one of my favorite teachers and coaches, her mom is always so sweet to talk with, and her brothers and sisters all have gone on to be successful in their own ways as well. This truly is one of americas great families and we are lucky to have them here in the heartland.
Jackie never needs to think "What if", Jackie made it. What an Amazing young lady, back then and look at all the young lives she is putting a positive spark of self esteem that so many children need. God Bless you Jackie Stiles!
Became a huge fan of Caitlan over the last 3 months and went back and watched some Taurasi and Bird highlites. some of these women can really ball out. Jackie is amazing. Definition of grit
I lived in Springfield, Mo. when Jackie played for Southwest Missouri State. She was absolutely unstoppable. Other teams would double and triple team her,,, and she STILL scored regularly. But she was NOT a selfish player,,, she was an excellent passer as well. This helped with the double and triple teaming. She absolutely filled the arena every single game. People were crazy to see her. And one of the most wonderful things was that she was soooo open and kind to the young girls that came to see her. She would talk to them and encourage them. She was as great a human being as she was a player. So glad she is doing well these days.
It really seems like she was ahead of her time. I discovered her once I started coaching girl's basketball and training junior college kids. I wish she could have stayed healthy as it would have been great having her as one of the pioneers of the WNBA. I watched many of her clips and she definitely used to pack them in. Appreciate you sharing the human side of her which endears her even more.
The game clips show that she had tremendous heart. Nothing stopped her from attacking the basket. And her longer shots just drop like a seasoned pro. Thank you for the comment.
I was in college when she played at SMS. I played at the SMS outdoor courts all the time. One day she showed up and played some pickup games on the "main" court where I was playing. She made college men look like fools. Luckily I did not have to guard her during those games.
I’m blessed to have been a part of the Las Vegas Aces broadcast team, behind the camera and I’ve great fun watching Aja, Kelsey, Jackie and this past season Candace Parker, possible HOF’ers all. Yet I’d never heard of Jackie Stiles, very much like THE PISTOL in many ways as I was blessed to see him play a number of times in college and the pro’s. Thank you for putting this together and I’m grateful that you included what Ms. Stiles is doing now and may she continue to work and develop more young ladies in learning about basketball.
Not going to lie I've never heard of her until I opened a few packs of 2002 WNBA Fleer cards last year and noticed she was the featured cover player. What an amazing player she was. Great job covering her story.
Terrific story & narration! I would have never cared about this at all, except for the compelling headline and then being carried along by one of the most mellow but authoritative and extremely professional voices I've EVER heard on any RUclips track. Fantastic job, BH!!
Jackie was indeed a joy to watch during NCAA Tournament. Injuries are so cruel. I am glad to hear she is doing well. Thank you for the video. Whoever is doing the narration: great presentation and a really rich speaking voice that is easy on the ears. Thanks again.
I remember seeing her on campus at SMS...not only was she an amazing player but also the nicest person you could meet. I competed in track at SMS and often saw her in the gym and spoke with her. She was always nice to everyone. She never had an ego. I saw her destroy a bunch of men on the outside courts a few times!
I replied to another comment saying that I actually played against her on the outdoor courts. She made people look like fools. Not me - because I didn't have to guard her. 😂
Can vouch for that. During the HEIGHT of her HS basketball days, she played a pickup game with my wife and her brother in the park. She was super nice and they had a lot of fun. At that time my wifes family was rather poor and looked down on in Claflin. She has always remembered how kind Jackie was!
WOW .. a very exciting story about Jackie Styles .. it literally gave me tears in my eyes from Jackie pursing her dream of playing professional basketball ... and she deserves all the accolades because she earned them !!
An interesting story related to Jackie is that when the game in which she was expected to set the all-time women's NCAA scoring record came, it was a home game at Hammons Center, and the university brought in Patricia Hoskins, the Mississippi Valley State player who held the record Jackie was about to break. When before the game Hoskins was introduced to the 8000+ crowd she was given a standing ovation.
I watched her play in high school as our town was rivals. Our girls team was very good and played her competitively but she could turn on the switch at any time. As a man at 6'5" I even played against her in a local 3 on 3 tournament and can tell you how tough she was first hand. A true star!
@@lilcourtny08 you're a misogynist with a girl's name, but hey, just saying. .... and I'm sure your clip of 10% from range in practice with no D, could easily be as good as her 40% for a season if only that B-grade mid week rec team could see ya potential. SMH
I met her after a conference game at SIU-Carbondale during her freshmany year. She was extremely humble and very shy off the court, but she turned into a monster on it. Facts: Her college town (Springfield, Missouri) is known as a retirement community. Jackie's fanbase was comprised of plenty of older people. Jackie's teams always averaged more fans per game than the men's teams. I'll never forget going to Jackie's college town her freshman year as a manager for the SIUC Salukis women's basketball team. Those fans were loud from beginning of the game until the end. And this was happening in the Missouri Valley Conference. We weren't the ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big East, PAC 12, or Big 12.
Not sure where you got the idea that it is known as a retirement community. There are several colleges in Springfield and it's 160k people. No one goes there to retire. I lived there for 40 years (until recently), and no one who lives there views it as a retirement community.
It's definitely not a retirement community (lived here 60 years). If anything, it is a large college town. However, the stands were always full of (older) blue-haired ladies throughout her career.
In her career, Jackie Stiles was a beast and was a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court and she will never be forgotten for her accomplishments.
I played basketball on the SMSU women’s team from 87-91. Would’ve been cool to play with Stiles or at least get to see her play in person. Saw my old coach, asst coach and former teammate briefly in the video. Brought back memories of old times.
So you were there during Cheryl's early years, during the rise of the program. My freshman year was Melody Howard and Tina Robbins senior year. I don't know if there has been a better environment for women's basketball than the early 90s in Springfield.
@@mitchgoddard8459 Yes. I played with Melody and Tina. I was a senior when they were freshmen. My junior and senior year were when we started to flourish under Coach Burnett, then they went to the Final Four right after in ‘92.
I always wondered what happen to her, seems like she's doing fine these days. Never forgot of how unstoppable she was in that NCAA tournament, she was something else.
I had the privilege of being present when she broke the all time NCAA scoring record. As your video noted that record stood for 17 years. It must be noted that when Kelsey Plumb broke the record she played in more games to do it, but Kelsey was a great player as well. Jackie being a class act, called Kelsey to congratulate her and let her know that she was a fan. I remember one game I attended at SMS (now Missouri State University) Jackie scored 51 points. I was just amazed watching her in practice before the game hitting about 25 three pointers in a row. There have been many great basketball players in the women's game, but her story of what she did in a small high school in Kansas and then choosing to play for a one of the top mid major programs and rejecting UConn's offer to play for Geno Auriema (arguably, the greatest women's program in history) . . . and then taking that mid major University team to the Final Four is quite a story. I am glad that a movie was made of her legendary story.
Thank you so much for watching! And for providing that wonderful perspective, she was truly a one-of-a-kind basketball player. Amazing that you got a chance to watch her live.
Wow! Man I never heard of Jackie Stiles up until now watching this and writing this comments. She's a phenomenal player, strong, and athletic. I become an instant fan of her basketball skills. I see her games with such focus and dedication. Yes! 100% "GOAT" for her era. A short-lived career, but left a very long lasting legacy of woman basketball from high school to college, and to professional league in WNBA. I will call her "the fundamental scorer". Long live to a legend. And God bless Jackie
Honestly, she is a player that is honestly in the conversations of one of the best to pick up a basketball. Her game didn't have any flaws. Everyone talks about Diana, Swin, Sue, Candace, Swoopers, Cooper, Thompson, Lisa etc. Ad some of the greats that can play against anyone who steps onto the court, but this young lady is someone who could make defensive specialists beg for help the moment the Fire gained possession of the ball. I wish that her name would come up more often because she's truly a phenomenal player and such a beautiful person. 💯
After being denied any further career in the WNBA by her body, she was still consumed with a competitive desire to compete at an elite level. She found that bicycling was something she could still do without excruciating pain. So, not surprisingly, she threw herself into competitive cycling with the same dedication she had for basketball in HS. She rode hundreds of miles a week, pushing herself just as in basketball. In only 4 months she was winning races against competitors who had been training their whole lives. She has since had coaching jobs, but seems to really enjoy just teaching now, as opposed to all the other stuff you have to go through in coaching. Saw her play for 4 years at SMS. Always classy and humble.
I remember watching her in college. She had Steve Nash kind of skills and John Havlicek movement without the ball. She was really good in track in high school too, so her work rate was top level.
If you were alive (and old enough) during that time, it's hard to believe you wouldn't know who she is. Her breaking that record was a huge deal at the time.
Got to watch her live for several years, and she is to this day the best pure shooter I've ever seen in my life...until Steph. If she hadn't been taken out by injuries, she would have been world-changing.
She was one of the best. Unfortunate that she suffered injuries, she would have been a Hall of Famer for sure. Watched that wild run the Bears made when they made it to the Final Four. Glad she is still involved in the game. God Bless you Jackie!
Definitely the most intriguing what-if story I have ever come across. She would have had an impactful, if not legendary pro career. If she was able to get multiple healthy seasons maybe the Portland Fire would have survived as a franchise. So many interesting scenarios.
Don’t ever take it for granted!!! Thanks for sharing this! Would love to meet her… remember her iconic performances and appreciate her contributions to the game!
Shelly Pennefather. Never lost a high school game, four state championships. All-time leading scorer at Villanova, male or female. Big East Freshman of the Year and followed that with three consecutive Big East Player of the Year. Capped it off with the Wade Trophy in 1987. Pre-WNBA, Shelly played in Japan before leaving the game and entering the convent. Now, she is Sister Rose Marie.
I grew up near where Pennefather played high school ball. She was definitely a phenom and a half. An amazing story how she dedicated her life to her faith.
One of the great What Ifs in hoops history. So snakebit by injuries. She was relentless on the court. It's nice to see that she has such a great perspective and isn't bitter.
I heard of her! I mostly watched UConn in those days but Jackie was a tremendous player and a lot of fun to watch also. It's a shame her pro career was cut short by injuries because she'd have been one of the all-time greats there as well.
Awesome stuff. I never heard of her until Clark was passing her. This is a great summary of who she was, what she accomplished and what she did after she was done with basketball. Thanks for sharing it!
As a Uconn grad I followed women's BB closely since the Geno era began. I became aware of Jackie during March madness when she led them to the final four. She was the 1st player I saw who played the game the way the men did. In 2024, the year of Caitlin Clark, the only comparable player who comes to my mind is Jackie Stiles.
Another clear example of how talented the athletes are in professional sports…and how tough it is to remain there. Even the folks just scraping by on the bench or in the D league are light years better than most college players.
Phenomenal athlete! Awesome dynamo. I'd never heard of her. So proud that she blazed in college, was drafted into the WNBA and was able to shine her rookie year. Thank you for this wonderful expose on her. Bless you Jackie!
🙏 It was an excellent interview! I thought it was a perfect way to end this, hearing Jackie's own thoughts about her career. Keep up the good work, been following you guys since the beginning of this season.
Just got this recommended to me and it would seem that the algorithm is right from time to time! I love basketball and that includes women's basketball so I'm glad to see there are channels dedicated to the ladies. Looking forward to more stuff!
Thanks for this. Watching Jackie play at SMS was an awesome, incredible experience. She was electric, hard-working, could flat out hoop. Hammonds used to be rocking. Those Lady Bears were a great team. (Also...it's not the Mississippi Valley! It's the Missouri Valley!)
My wife and I are watching all the Caitlyn Clark games this year and loving it. Jackie seems to be a wonderful lady and I wish her all the best! THANK YOU for a wonderful video!
She was absolutely 100% legit! I would have loved to have seen what she could done if the injuries hadn't shortened her career. She had a great all around game!
I was 15 when during Jackie's senior year, and I remember it so well - she was just a walking bucket, and despite constant double and triple teams, she still scored, and did so efficiently. It's a shame that she's somewhat forgotten now, mostly because the injuries slowed her pro career. I still marvel at the fact that she took Southwest Missouri State to the final four, a legit mid major which essentially never happens in Women's hoops. We all love Caitlin Clark, who is incredible. And most people make the argument that she has risen teams with not as much talent to a higher level....And all of that's true...But Jackie once again, took a team with way less talent that Iowa all the way to the final four, and that's one hell of an accomplishment that should not be understated. I really wish that people would give her her flowers more so than they do.
Yes, Jackie Stiles did play in the NBA and she excelled while there. What an amazing True story!! Thanks Jackie for living it!! and to BenevolentHoops for bringing it to us!! On a side note, wonder what Jackie's VO2 max is? She is a word-class athlete on every level!! Clearly.
Anyone who has never heard of Jackie wasnt paying much attention. She was mighty big news during her time at SMS, and not just in Missouri and Kansas. She was a legend. The hardest part of this to accept is that its been 22 years since that magical Final Four season.
I grew up hearing of this legend in Springfield Missouri, where SMS is located. They legit had Jackie Stiles swag at Walmart for this girl, she was a phenom! I am pretty sure my mom still has a Jackie Stiles T-shirt! lol
I just want to say that I love this video and want more contents like this. I’m a big fan of the NBA but know almost nothing about women basketball. The problem is that there are few positive contents about the women basketball on RUclips.
With all the Caitlin Clark, this name keeps popping into my mind. I was starting to get annoyed when nobody was bringing her up as one of the greats so thanks for doing this.
i used to live in Springfield Missouri , a lady bears game was cant miss stuff. Jackie Stiles was awesome . i used to go to charity events she would host. Super cool woman !!
Never heard of her before before this video, but as soon as you mentioned her training regimen at 16 years old, I thought she probably was plagued by injuries in her pro career, and had to retire early. Sad to have been right. What a pro career she could have had, but she accomplished a lot in her overall basketball career.
*CORRECTIONS*: As some in the comments have pointed out, SMS played in the Missouri Valley Conference, not Mississippi Valley...I had it right everywhere else, not sure why my brain glitched and said Mississippi. Also JQH arena wasn't built until a few years after Jackie left, that arena was Hammons Student Center. Apologies for the errors. 🙏
If you like the video and want more about Jackie, there is a full Jackie Stiles documentary will be available to stream on these platforms on August 30th!!
AppleTV: tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-jackie-stiles-story/umc.cmc.5fut7nbf1w7kvb5ry7ia4rqr9
Amazon Prime Video: amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B8T1H7NY
Vimeo: vimeo.com/736924226
For a hard copy DVD order via this link:
Link here: geni.us/TheJackieStile
I’m just curious, if she really was the star of the ncaa and was too good to be true. How come on draft day she was not even taken at no.1 or even a top 3 pick
JQH Arena is now Great Southern Bank Arena.
@@kennethpage417 Only 2 players have scored more points in NCAA history. And it took 16 years to break her scoring record.
Extremely small detail but it was a 10 point win against Duke, not 8
@@kennethpage417MJ wasn’t a number one draft pick either. Sometimes scouts don’t see a players future potential, just current usage.
She put her little body through so much. She had the heart but the body could not sustain the constant torment she put it through day in and day out. She was the definition of pure will and determination.
Huh?
Must be an sms fan
Sounds like Allen iverson
@@winstonsmiths2449she’s a small girl but put her body through hella pain with her work ethic
@@winstonsmiths2449 overworked
Jackie Stiles knocked out my alma mater in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament in 2001. She was a scoring machine, and she made the Final 4. She was a BEAST.
I luckily was in the stands to watch Jackie and the SMS team beat Washington and Duke....
Why on Earth would anyone care about women's "basketball." An average HS basketball team would destroy every WNBA team ever.
@@freemanpense2782 that's a dumb take. competition is competition. with that line of thinking why would anyone watch any college ball when the nba is better?
@@FtGFAHe clearly didn’t play any type of competitive sports no matter how talented you may be or delusional in reality there is level the game of sports and no matter what tier or gender in game performance is WILL and ALWAYS show for itself. And if you’re a professional player you were atleast nothing less then a Four star recruit in perspective.💯
Jackie Chiles
I went to high school in Claflin but was much younger than her, by the time I was in high school she was already a year out of the WNBA. Having gone to school there I naturally heard all the stories about her as well as walked through the "hall of jackie" every day outside of the gym. She really still is such an inspiration to that town even to this day. And her entire family are some of the nicest, kindest people I have ever known. Her father was one of my favorite teachers and coaches, her mom is always so sweet to talk with, and her brothers and sisters all have gone on to be successful in their own ways as well. This truly is one of americas great families and we are lucky to have them here in the heartland.
Jackie never needs to think "What if", Jackie made it. What an Amazing young lady, back then and look at all the young lives she is putting a positive spark of self esteem that so many children need. God Bless you Jackie Stiles!
Became a huge fan of Caitlan over the last 3 months and went back and watched some Taurasi and Bird highlites. some of these women can really ball out. Jackie is amazing. Definition of grit
@@wbottiBlack women throughout history have balled out too
Let it go lady. We got eyes
@@anthonyjohnson9403 and?
I lived in Springfield, Mo. when Jackie played for Southwest Missouri State. She was absolutely unstoppable. Other teams would double and triple team her,,, and she STILL scored regularly. But she was NOT a selfish player,,, she was an excellent passer as well. This helped with the double and triple teaming. She absolutely filled the arena every single game. People were crazy to see her. And one of the most wonderful things was that she was soooo open and kind to the young girls that came to see her. She would talk to them and encourage them. She was as great a human being as she was a player. So glad she is doing well these days.
I played with her on the msu outdoor courts one night. She made men look like fools. It's sad that her knees gave out on her.
It really seems like she was ahead of her time. I discovered her once I started coaching girl's basketball and training junior college kids. I wish she could have stayed healthy as it would have been great having her as one of the pioneers of the WNBA. I watched many of her clips and she definitely used to pack them in. Appreciate you sharing the human side of her which endears her even more.
The game clips show that she had tremendous heart. Nothing stopped her from attacking the basket.
And her longer shots just drop like a seasoned pro.
Thank you for the comment.
I was in college when she played at SMS. I played at the SMS outdoor courts all the time. One day she showed up and played some pickup games on the "main" court where I was playing. She made college men look like fools. Luckily I did not have to guard her during those games.
I’m blessed to have been a part of the Las Vegas Aces broadcast team, behind the camera and I’ve great fun watching Aja, Kelsey, Jackie and this past season Candace Parker, possible HOF’ers all. Yet I’d never heard of Jackie Stiles, very much like THE PISTOL in many ways as I was blessed to see him play a number of times in college and the pro’s.
Thank you for putting this together and I’m grateful that you included what Ms. Stiles is doing now and may she continue to work and develop more young ladies in learning about basketball.
She had that mamba mentality since high school. If it wasn’t for her injuries, she would definitely be mentioned as one of if not the greats.
No she didn’t she couldn’t gaurd anyone
What greats? Nobody knows anything about any female basketball players.
The women have their list of greats. How you gonna act so clownish? You actually thought someone was comparing men to women. Lol clown
"One of the greats" - who would beaten by every decent male HS player in the country.
@@freemanpense2782oh you're that guy...
Not going to lie I've never heard of her until I opened a few packs of 2002 WNBA Fleer cards last year and noticed she was the featured cover player. What an amazing player she was. Great job covering her story.
They have wnba cards? Hahaha 😂😂
I hate that you opened that pack. What in the hell were you thinking?
@@MaybeDHitHimwhat? why?
@@poindextertunes it's more valuable when you don't.
There was wnba in 2002?? I thought it was fairly new.
Terrific story & narration! I would have never cared about this at all, except for the compelling headline and then being carried along by one of the most mellow but authoritative and extremely professional voices I've EVER heard on any RUclips track. Fantastic job, BH!!
Jackie was indeed a joy to watch during NCAA Tournament. Injuries are so cruel. I am glad to hear she is doing well. Thank you for the video. Whoever is doing the narration: great presentation and a really rich speaking voice that is easy on the ears. Thanks again.
To remember Jackie Stiles you would also have to remember the Portland Fire, a name that was ahead of its time.
If Jackie Stiles had more healthy seasons, maybe Portland would still have a WNBA team. If not she definitely would have shined elsewhere.
You played, you dominated, and you were unforgettable! Everybody remembers how you twisted the top of your jersey sleeves,,, iconic!
I remember seeing her on campus at SMS...not only was she an amazing player but also the nicest person you could meet. I competed in track at SMS and often saw her in the gym and spoke with her. She was always nice to everyone. She never had an ego. I saw her destroy a bunch of men on the outside courts a few times!
I replied to another comment saying that I actually played against her on the outdoor courts. She made people look like fools. Not me - because I didn't have to guard her. 😂
Can vouch for that. During the HEIGHT of her HS basketball days, she played a pickup game with my wife and her brother in the park. She was super nice and they had a lot of fun. At that time my wifes family was rather poor and looked down on in Claflin. She has always remembered how kind Jackie was!
Top Tier content on par with the best of basketball RUclips. For the women's game no less. This is for the algorithm. Thank you!
Agreed 💪🏾
Agreed. Great work
Man I hadn’t heard her name in a while, glad to see she’s doing well and still involved with basketball. Respect!
WOW .. a very exciting story about Jackie Styles .. it literally gave me tears in my eyes from Jackie pursing her dream of playing professional basketball ... and she deserves all the accolades because she earned them !!
An interesting story related to Jackie is that when the game in which she was expected to set the all-time women's NCAA scoring record came, it was a home game at Hammons Center, and the university brought in Patricia Hoskins, the Mississippi Valley State player who held the record Jackie was about to break. When before the game Hoskins was introduced to the 8000+ crowd she was given a standing ovation.
Anyone who lived in Kansas when she played at Claflin knew all about Jackie Stiles. She was amazing there and at SMS.
Where's Kansas
I watched her play in high school as our town was rivals. Our girls team was very good and played her competitively but she could turn on the switch at any time. As a man at 6'5" I even played against her in a local 3 on 3 tournament and can tell you how tough she was first hand. A true star!
You were terrible at basketball, sehe 5'8 at best.
@@lilcourtny08 you're a misogynist with a girl's name, but hey, just saying. .... and I'm sure your clip of 10% from range in practice with no D, could easily be as good as her 40% for a season if only that B-grade mid week rec team could see ya potential. SMH
I met her after a conference game at SIU-Carbondale during her freshmany year. She was extremely humble and very shy off the court, but she turned into a monster on it.
Facts: Her college town (Springfield, Missouri) is known as a retirement community. Jackie's fanbase was comprised of plenty of older people. Jackie's teams always averaged more fans per game than the men's teams.
I'll never forget going to Jackie's college town her freshman year as a manager for the SIUC Salukis women's basketball team. Those fans were loud from beginning of the game until the end. And this was happening in the Missouri Valley Conference. We weren't the ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big East, PAC 12, or Big 12.
Not sure where you got the idea that it is known as a retirement community. There are several colleges in Springfield and it's 160k people. No one goes there to retire. I lived there for 40 years (until recently), and no one who lives there views it as a retirement community.
Drake fan during those same years and I concur
It's definitely not a retirement community (lived here 60 years). If anything, it is a large college town. However, the stands were always full of (older) blue-haired ladies throughout her career.
In her career, Jackie Stiles was a beast and was a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court and she will never be forgotten for her accomplishments.
I played basketball on the SMSU women’s team from 87-91. Would’ve been cool to play with Stiles or at least get to see her play in person. Saw my old coach, asst coach and former teammate briefly in the video. Brought back memories of old times.
So you were there during Cheryl's early years, during the rise of the program. My freshman year was Melody Howard and Tina Robbins senior year. I don't know if there has been a better environment for women's basketball than the early 90s in Springfield.
@@mitchgoddard8459 Yes. I played with Melody and Tina. I was a senior when they were freshmen. My junior and senior year were when we started to flourish under Coach Burnett, then they went to the Final Four right after in ‘92.
I always wondered what happen to her, seems like she's doing fine these days. Never forgot of how unstoppable she was in that NCAA tournament, she was something else.
I had the privilege of being present when she broke the all time NCAA scoring record. As your video noted that record stood for 17 years. It must be noted that when Kelsey Plumb broke the record she played in more games to do it, but Kelsey was a great player as well. Jackie being a class act, called Kelsey to congratulate her and let her know that she was a fan.
I remember one game I attended at SMS (now Missouri State University) Jackie scored 51 points. I was just amazed watching her in practice before the game hitting about 25 three pointers in a row. There have been many great basketball players in the women's game, but her story of what she did in a small high school in Kansas and then choosing to play for a one of the top mid major programs and rejecting UConn's offer to play for Geno Auriema (arguably, the greatest women's program in history) . . . and then taking that mid major University team to the Final Four is quite a story. I am glad that a movie was made of her legendary story.
Thank you so much for watching! And for providing that wonderful perspective, she was truly a one-of-a-kind basketball player. Amazing that you got a chance to watch her live.
She’s amazing her dad and work ethic helped I’m sure
I cried when she lost in the final four. I was rooting for her. She's the greatest.
Great player. But imagine her at UConn??… Shoot, might have been the first to 4 in a row.
That is amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! Man I never heard of Jackie Stiles up until now watching this and writing this comments. She's a phenomenal player, strong, and athletic. I become an instant fan of her basketball skills. I see her games with such focus and dedication. Yes! 100% "GOAT" for her era. A short-lived career, but left a very long lasting legacy of woman basketball from high school to college, and to professional league in WNBA. I will call her "the fundamental scorer". Long live to a legend. And God bless Jackie
Honestly, she is a player that is honestly in the conversations of one of the best to pick up a basketball. Her game didn't have any flaws. Everyone talks about Diana, Swin, Sue, Candace, Swoopers, Cooper, Thompson, Lisa etc. Ad some of the greats that can play against anyone who steps onto the court, but this young lady is someone who could make defensive specialists beg for help the moment the Fire gained possession of the ball. I wish that her name would come up more often because she's truly a phenomenal player and such a beautiful person. 💯
Thanks for your honesty 🤪
Thank you so much for this!!! Jackie Stiles is one of my favorite players to never win a ring!! She was a straight BALLER!!
STRAIGHT BALLER!!!!
I remember watching her in college. She's always remained my favorite women's basketball player.
This made me tear up! She was extremely talented and passionate!
Whooooooa. Nice video and content. Cool of you giving forgotten and unknown players some limelight.
After being denied any further career in the WNBA by her body, she was still consumed with a competitive desire to compete at an elite level. She found that bicycling was something she could still do without excruciating pain. So, not surprisingly, she threw herself into competitive cycling with the same dedication she had for basketball in HS. She rode hundreds of miles a week, pushing herself just as in basketball. In only 4 months she was winning races against competitors who had been training their whole lives. She has since had coaching jobs, but seems to really enjoy just teaching now, as opposed to all the other stuff you have to go through in coaching. Saw her play for 4 years at SMS. Always classy and humble.
Caitlin Clark is Jackie Stiles 2.0. This woman should be more recognized.
I remember watching her in college. She had Steve Nash kind of skills and John Havlicek movement without the ball. She was really good in track in high school too, so her work rate was top level.
If you were alive (and old enough) during that time, it's hard to believe you wouldn't know who she is. Her breaking that record was a huge deal at the time.
This was dope! I loved watching her play in that NCAA tournament
Her speed, her handles, her maneuver, her finishing from this clips were on a different level.
Got to watch her live for several years, and she is to this day the best pure shooter I've ever seen in my life...until Steph. If she hadn't been taken out by injuries, she would have been world-changing.
She was one of the best. Unfortunate that she suffered injuries, she would have been a Hall of Famer for sure. Watched that wild run the Bears made when they made it to the Final Four. Glad she is still involved in the game. God Bless you Jackie!
Definitely. Jackie is a legend, for that Final Four run alone. Let alone the record setting offense.
She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2016
@@The_TOMMYRAZOR I'm so glad to hear that. She deserves that honor.
Every athlete in our era in the state knew of her work ethic!
I'm sad to hear the her pro career was cut short like that. She sounded like she was on the path of a record breaking and record making career.
Definitely the most intriguing what-if story I have ever come across. She would have had an impactful, if not legendary pro career. If she was able to get multiple healthy seasons maybe the Portland Fire would have survived as a franchise. So many interesting scenarios.
Amazing talent. I appreciate her contributions to women's basketball .
Don’t ever take it for granted!!!
Thanks for sharing this!
Would love to meet her… remember her iconic performances and appreciate her contributions to the game!
Shelly Pennefather. Never lost a high school game, four state championships. All-time leading scorer at Villanova, male or female. Big East Freshman of the Year and followed that with three consecutive Big East Player of the Year. Capped it off with the Wade Trophy in 1987. Pre-WNBA, Shelly played in Japan before leaving the game and entering the convent. Now, she is Sister Rose Marie.
I grew up near where Pennefather played high school ball. She was definitely a phenom and a half. An amazing story how she dedicated her life to her faith.
One of the great What Ifs in hoops history. So snakebit by injuries. She was relentless on the court. It's nice to see that she has such a great perspective and isn't bitter.
So good to hear she's doing well and still impacting the lives of many little girls. Thanks for sharing her story.
I watched Jackie and her teammates play for the entirety oh her SMS/MSU career-it was an awesome time for SMS/MSU fans!
I heard of her! I mostly watched UConn in those days but Jackie was a tremendous player and a lot of fun to watch also. It's a shame her pro career was cut short by injuries because she'd have been one of the all-time greats there as well.
WOW. She's paying it forward now and surely inspired many.
Awesome stuff. I never heard of her until Clark was passing her. This is a great summary of who she was, what she accomplished and what she did after she was done with basketball. Thanks for sharing it!
As a Uconn grad I followed women's BB closely since the Geno era began. I became aware of Jackie during March madness when she led them to the final four. She was the 1st player I saw who played the game the way the men did. In 2024, the year of Caitlin Clark, the only comparable player who comes to my mind is Jackie Stiles.
Another clear example of how talented the athletes are in professional sports…and how tough it is to remain there. Even the folks just scraping by on the bench or in the D league are light years better than most college players.
Phenomenal athlete! Awesome dynamo. I'd never heard of her. So proud that she blazed in college, was drafted into the WNBA and was able to shine her rookie year. Thank you for this wonderful expose on her. Bless you Jackie!
Let's call it a mini-documentary. I think that would be more accurate. "Dynamo" is exactly the right word, though.
I remember her!! She was tough! Thank you for this video. I always wondered what happened to her!
I know nothing of the WNBA but good to see the girls getting some love.
I grew up near SMS, where Jackie played college ball.
She was a phenomenon.
Awesome video I forgot all about her. I remember espn would have her highlights all the time in high school
Thanks for putting this video together. With the Clark phenomena, it is great to hear stories of others who have paved the way for women's basketball.
Love the video...it was even dope to and unexpected to see the final clip was from our interview we did with her 🔥🔥🔥
🙏 It was an excellent interview! I thought it was a perfect way to end this, hearing Jackie's own thoughts about her career. Keep up the good work, been following you guys since the beginning of this season.
Great video.
The algorithm finally gets one right. I'm going to check out that documentary you suggested too, thanks.
She Shines at everything she does and makes others better.
A great Woman
Wow. Never heard of her but super impressed. She certainly seems like a good human being. I wish her well.
Of course, we have heard of her. Who could forget that 41 pts performance against Duke?
Great content man
I absolutely temember her and wondered what happened. great story coverage. thanks. I remember her being absolutely unstoppable.
I was a regular at those Fire games in '01 and '02. Jackie Stiles was a special player.
Just got this recommended to me and it would seem that the algorithm is right from time to time! I love basketball and that includes women's basketball so I'm glad to see there are channels dedicated to the ladies. Looking forward to more stuff!
Great report. I remember her playing for SMS. She played with an intensity not often matched. Loved watching her.
Very well done video! Thanks for putting this up!
Thanks for this. Watching Jackie play at SMS was an awesome, incredible experience. She was electric, hard-working, could flat out hoop. Hammonds used to be rocking. Those Lady Bears were a great team. (Also...it's not the Mississippi Valley! It's the Missouri Valley!)
Thank you sir what a great story so inspiring God bless
dang she aged like fine wine
She sure did!
Loved Jackie Stiles. I actually went to a Portland Fire game to watch her play. Broke my heart when her career ended.
I was fortunate enough to live close to smsu and witness her entire career. She was absolutely unbelievable.
My wife and I are watching all the Caitlyn Clark games this year and loving it. Jackie seems to be a wonderful lady and I wish her all the best! THANK YOU for a wonderful video!
Love to see new channels for Women's Basketball! Well written stuff too--subbed!
EDIT: The stat analysis is 👍
She was absolutely 100% legit! I would have loved to have seen what she could done if the injuries hadn't shortened her career. She had a great all around game!
I was 15 when during Jackie's senior year, and I remember it so well - she was just a walking bucket, and despite constant double and triple teams, she still scored, and did so efficiently. It's a shame that she's somewhat forgotten now, mostly because the injuries slowed her pro career.
I still marvel at the fact that she took Southwest Missouri State to the final four, a legit mid major which essentially never happens in Women's hoops. We all love Caitlin Clark, who is incredible. And most people make the argument that she has risen teams with not as much talent to a higher level....And all of that's true...But Jackie once again, took a team with way less talent that Iowa all the way to the final four, and that's one hell of an accomplishment that should not be understated. I really wish that people would give her her flowers more so than they do.
Yes, Jackie Stiles did play in the NBA and she excelled while there. What an amazing True story!! Thanks Jackie for living it!! and to BenevolentHoops for bringing it to us!! On a side note, wonder what Jackie's VO2 max is? She is a word-class athlete on every level!! Clearly.
Anyone who has never heard of Jackie wasnt paying much attention. She was mighty big news during her time at SMS, and not just in Missouri and Kansas. She was a legend. The hardest part of this to accept is that its been 22 years since that magical Final Four season.
I grew up hearing of this legend in Springfield Missouri, where SMS is located. They legit had Jackie Stiles swag at Walmart for this girl, she was a phenom!
I am pretty sure my mom still has a Jackie Stiles T-shirt! lol
That is AWESOME! I have loved hearing the stories from the Missouri/Kansas folks who experienced this legend in person.
So glad I clicked open this video. Wow, Jackie Stiles was a powerhouse!
Great content keep ‘em coming
Really fantastic video - thanks for making it! And WOW.
Excellent Video!
Thank you!
My daughter went to one of her camps. She is so down to earth...you would never imagine what a star she was.
I just want to say that I love this video and want more contents like this. I’m a big fan of the NBA but know almost nothing about women basketball. The problem is that there are few positive contents about the women basketball on RUclips.
With all the Caitlin Clark, this name keeps popping into my mind. I was starting to get annoyed when nobody was bringing her up as one of the greats so thanks for doing this.
Nice video man. She's definitely badass.
Thank You!
fantastic video thank you sir.
Great documentary,.....pleasant to see her earn so much sucess
i used to live in Springfield Missouri , a lady bears game was cant miss stuff. Jackie Stiles was awesome . i used to go to charity events she would host. Super cool woman !!
EXCELLENT human interest video. Inspiring and heartwarming.
Great video
Never heard of her before before this video, but as soon as you mentioned her training regimen at 16 years old, I thought she probably was plagued by injuries in her pro career, and had to retire early.
Sad to have been right. What a pro career she could have had, but she accomplished a lot in her overall basketball career.
I've heard of her. Watched her in the tourney that year and always wondered how her career turned out
Thank you for making this video. It was both inspiring and uplifting.
this was an incredible video and amazing story! well done!
Thank you!!
Very well done, Benevolent Hoops!
Amazing video, I had never heard of her! I hate injuries smh...