A Conversation with Muggsy Bogues
A Conversation with Muggsy Bogues
Y'all Weekly talks with Charlotte Hornets legend and former Charlotte Sting coach Muggsy Bogues about what the Queen City's last top-tier women's pro team meant to the community, and to him.
On August 12, 2006, the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting played their last match at what is now the Spectrum Center. The result was a 84-57 win over expansion team Chicago Sky; however, the team coached by Charlotte Hornets legend Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues had a disappointing season overall, with an 11-23 record that left the Sting 7 games out of the playoffs and next to last in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Sky.
The Sky would go on to win a championship in 2021, while the Sting would never play again.
After the season, Sting (and Charlotte Bobcats) owner Bob Johnson ”gave up” on the team. Despite a 2001 Finals run led by Dawn Staley, and head coach Bogues improving on the previous season, the team regularly struggled with attendance, averaging fewer than 6,000 fans per game in the 2006 season.
Johnson pulled the plug for financial reasons, reverting ownership to the WNBA, which in turn failed to find a buyer for the franchise. The team folded before the 2007 season, and the Sting’s players left for other teams.
In the years since, women’s sports have grown in popularity by leaps and bounds. More money has been invested in women’s sports than ever, Title IX has opened doors to generational growth in sports, and teams like the U.S. Women’s National Team in soccer and the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA have used their platform to lead the conversation on issues of inclusion, equality, and anti-racism.
Now, with the Carolina Ascent poised to be the Queen City’s first top-tier women’s professional team in 18 years, Y’all Weekly spoke with Bogues - the last person to coach a women’s pro team in Charlotte - about what the Sting meant to the community, and what a new women’s team will mean for young and adult fans alike.
A Conversation with Muggsy Bogues
The following conversation took place on August 6. It has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Y’all Weekly (Sam Spencer): Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. You were the last person to coach a top-tier pro-women's team in Charlotte. First off, I just wanted to know what that meant to you?
Muggsy Bogues: It was a great deal. I really was honored to be asked to be the coach of the Charlotte's Sting, coaching professional women who truly treated the game just like any other professional. They came in, worked extremely hard at their craft. Fundamentals were really at the forefront of their skill set. It was just a remarkable, blessed opportunity for me to be encountered with such an amazing group that I had the opportunity to coach.
Y’all: How did you end up in that position in the first place?
Muggsy: The organization reached out to me. The last 10 games of their season, I think the season wasn't going as well as they would have liked. They wanted a change with the coaching staff. Then they asked me, with the last 10 games of the season, would I take over?
I was a little concerned about it being the end of the season and not being able to start at the beginning, but I went ahead and took on the challenge, took over the last 10 games. We did really fairly well. I think we won five sports out of the six games. I started off the next season in 2006, which I was really excited about before it all dispersed at the end of 2006.
Y’all: What was it like coaching the whole season and getting that whole season before the team folded?
Muggsy: I felt like I was in my element. Being a point guard for so many years, running your own team, being an extension of a coach off the floor and having the opportunity to be the head coach, operating, having the girls play under your system, trying to take advantage of their skill set. It was a great opportunity for me to have that opportunity to coach those young ladies.
Y’all: What did it mean to the fans? What did you see from the fans who were coming out to support the Sting?
Muggsy: I saw the excitement of it, especially them seeing me on the sidelines, being over there as a player for so long and them supporting me in that regard. Now them seeing me trying to run a team, I think they really were excited about it. The community came out and supported us tremendously. We had a great mix of wins there. We didn't finish the season like we would like to, but I think we had a really great opportunity to try to build something special, but unfortunately it got cut short.
Y’all: My understanding is that Bob Johnson didn't think it was profitable, reverted the team back to the WNBA, couldn't find a buyer, and it folded.
Muggsy: Yes, you pretty much hit it on the nail! Given time, I think we could have built the attendance. I think it would have gotten better because of the situation the men were in as well. But again, he had the right to look at his bottom line, and he felt like that wasn't something he wanted to take on.
Y’all: How do you feel like support for women's sports has changed since? It's been a huge year because of Caitlin Clark, but even before that, the saga with Brittney Griner in Russia … How have you seen the game evolve?
Muggsy: The game has evolved, and it's rightfully so. Don't leave out [the Chicago Sky’s] Angel Reese. Angel Reese is a big part of why the game has grown as well. It wasn't just Caitlin Clark.
Y’all: Absolutely.
Muggsy: But it's a good thing. I think it's all just timing. It's perfectly right with the rivalry they had in college with LSU as well as with them getting a lot of airtime.
And you've got to think about the new era now. A lot of kids, not only just girls, but little boys as well, are excited about the game within itself. And having a player like Caitlin Clark, who’s playing the game like they see a Stephen Curry, just continue that conversation, which always elevates the game. It brings more eyes to the game, more eyeballs to the game. And when you have more eyeballs to the game, it's a high demand. And then TV rights get involved. And now that you see the momentum continue to keep going forward based on the eyeballs and what the interest is now in women's basketball, you've got to give credit to Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and amongst all the girls that were before them who continue to lay the stage and continue to keep their brand at a high level.
But you cannot disregard what Caitlin Clark and what Angel Reese and them brought to this game because they are definitely the driving force. And we always say it goes back to when Magic and Larry Bird came in the league. How the league elevated when those two megastars were able to come in and enter the NBA. And having that with Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, it's just a great thing to see because these women definitely deserve it.
Y’all: I went to North Meck, so I kept on thinking while writing this story, what would things have been like for Andrea Stinson if she had the same kind of investment in the league that we're seeing now?
Muggsy: Absolutely. Andrea Stinson, Dawn Staley … I mean, the list goes on and on. We had some talented players all the way from Sheryl Swoopes, going back to Becky Hammon. We had some tremendous players that played this game that rightfully need to get those accolades and get those roses. But now it's the timing. Internet has really increased a lot of eyeballs on the game. I'm so happy to see it while I'm still here, to see the growth of the game because these young ladies definitely deserve it.
Y’all: What do you think it would mean to the Charlotte community to have a WNBA team again?
Muggsy: I think it would be awesome having a women's team representing the WNBA in the City of Charlotte. It would be a welcome sight. Who could be that coach? I don't know. Maybe Dawn Staley will leave South Carolina and come back up to take on that task. I can't see it happening, but it would be a great treat and it would be a blessing for me to see it happen.
But, again, I would love to see women's basketball back in Charlotte.
Y’all: We will have the Carolina Ascent starting on August 17th. As somebody who had the opportunity to coach women's sports in the city, what do you think that's going to mean to the young kids who are watching it?
Muggsy: Awesome. I mean, it gives a lot of little girls around the world, around the city of Charlotte, dreaming, believing that one day that could be them. I mean, that's where the game has gone. Inclusion is where it's at. I mean, we shouldn't just specify on one particular gender in terms of who should be playing a sport. These young ladies are really showing how capable, how skillful they are across the board. It's just a great treat to be witnessing it all.
Y’all: Last time we saw each other was at Charlotte FC. What was it like being a basketball guy, going into the Fortress, being coronated, going through that whole experience with Charlotte FC?
Muggsy: I was honored. I truly was honored to be crowned at the game. Just seeing how enthusiasm and how engaged the fans are. I mean, they really love the game. They really love soccer. The fans really give them that extra boost to go out there and perform. And that's always been the city of Charlotte. They always support their franchises, and it's no different than with the soccer team that we're witnessing. So I'm happy to see it, and I'm grateful to be part of it as well.
Y’all: Since I have you, I've got to ask. Charlotte Hornets’ Mount Rushmore, who's on it? (Aside from you, who's on my top four)
Muggsy: Oh my gosh. I mean, of course, I've got Zo, LJ, I've got Dell. I'll put Kemba on there too.
Y’all: That sounds about right to me. Well, Muggsy, I really appreciate the time today, thank you.
Muggsy: It was a pleasure, Sam. Thank you.