Pittsburgh Women in Sports
There are many things that bring Pittsburghers together – French fries on sandwiches and salads, a cold Iron City, Pop Art and, of course, sports!
While we often reminisce on the Steel Curtain and our favorite hockey nights in Pittsburgh, we would be remiss if we didn’t talk about the success of women in sports, too. In honor of Black History Month, we’re celebrating four of the Black women in sports from Pittsburgh who have made history, set records and continue to contribute to the world of athletics. We know there are many more, and we, of course, celebrate their accomplishments as well.
Bianca Smith
Pittsburgh-area native Bianca Smith recently made history by becoming the first Black woman to coach in professional baseball with the Boston Red Sox. Smith was born in Sewickley and attended college at Dartmouth where she played softball before moving on to the director of baseball role at Case Western University, a position she held while studying law. Smith currently coaches at Carroll University in Wisconsin and will be joining the Boston Red Sox for Spring Training.
Swintayla "Swin" Cash Canal
McKeesport-native Swintayla “Swin” Cash Canal played 14 seasons of professional basketball in the WNBA. Cash Canal, a teammate of Battle’s at UConn, is a two-time NCAA Women’s Division I Champion, a three-time WNBA Champion and a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for Team USA. Currently, she serves as vice president of basketball operations and team development for the New Orleans Pelicans. Cash Canal was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.