TY Young is stepping confidently into new arenas far from the echo of the buzzer, her story continues to inspire anyone redefining success after reaching the top. For Ty, the WNBA was a childhood dream realized. Drafted eighth overall in 2008 by the Atlanta Dream, she spent more than a decade in the league, earning respect for her tenacity and versatility. But reaching the pinnacle came with hard lessons.
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“One of my proudest moments was just making it to the league,” Ty reflects. “We all have dreams as kids, but you never know if you’ll really achieve them. To step onto that court, that was a dream come true.”For Ty, the WNBA was a childhood dream realized. Drafted eighth overall in 2008 by the Atlanta Dream, she spent more than a decade in the league, earning respect for her tenacity and versatility. But reaching the pinnacle came with hard lessons.
“One of my proudest moments was just making it to the league,” Ty reflects. “We all have dreams as kids, but you never know if you’ll really achieve them. To step onto that court, that was a dream come true.”
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When Ty’s playing days wound down, she faced another challenge familiar to many athletes: “They don’t tell you what happens next. Life after hoops can be tough.” Rather than falter, Ty doubled down on building her personal brand while still in uniform, launching her TY1 Gear clothing line out of necessity when her own jerseys weren’t being sold in Chicago.
Her advice for athletes wanting to diversify? “Be authentic. With brand partnerships and marketing, people can tell if you’re not genuine. Stay true to yourself and remember, what’s meant for you, is for YOU. Even if everyone doesn’t see your vision.”
Now, Ty is harnessing her basketball IQ as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky, the very team she once starred for. “Being a role model is different as a coach,” she says. “I have to lead by example, knowing I can’t always be out socializing with players. But it’s a responsibility I accept because I know the impact I can have.”
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Coaching has deepened her sense of purpose. “People are always watching. I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not. You take me as I am, or you don’t,” Ty says with characteristic candor.
Off the court, Ty’s unfiltered energy radiates. Whether discussing reality TV (where she’s broken new ground as the first WNBA player cast as a main on “Basketball Wives”), her musical side (“I played percussion from middle through high school and was first chair!”), or her personal life, she is transparent. “On TV or in my relationships, it’s all real. I won’t bring anything to the screen that isn’t a part of my truth.”
Ty Young refuses to be put in a box. As the first main-cast WNBA player on “Basketball Wives,” a businesswoman, and now a professional coach, she’s opening doors and breaking barriers. Check out the full interview be
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