Shoni Schimmel was drafted by the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA with the 8th pick this past Monday night. Photo COURTESY/WNBA
Shoni Schimmel: An idol and role model for Indian youth
By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News/Managing Editor LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The career of Shoni Schimmel as a college athlete was arguably the most followed of any Indian athlete in the history of sports. What cannot be denied is the level and weight of influence she has had in inspiring athletes from around Indian Country. Born and raised on the Umatilla Reservation in Pendleton Oregon, Shoni would be recruited to play at Louisville in 2010. At the time Shoni was the number 8 rated recruit in the country. Despite the hype created by her play on the court for Franklin High School in Portland where she averaged 29.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 5.5 steals a game her senior season no one could have predicted what would come of her college career. During her time as a Cardinal she would become the most decorated Native American collegiate basketball player in history, develop into a player who would bring the term Rez Ball to the mainstream public, all the while uniting tens of thousands of Indian fans behind the Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball program through her positivity and Native pride. Not bad for a four-year run that saw her lead Louisville to the Final Four that included a historic upset of Brittney Griner and the Baylor Bears. During her junior year she would again make a deep tournament run in to the Elite 8 where the Cardinals would fall short to the Maryland Terrapins. Despite the following she had garnered throughout her career she says that the impact she has had on Indian Country has not totally set in yet. “Yes to some degree it has, but I hope to bring more light to Native American people,” said Schimmel. Throughout her career Shoni has had a significant Native American following at her games but she says that it really hit her this past season as to just how large her fan base had grown. When asked if there was a specific moment that she noticed how much of an effort Native fans were making to attend her games she recalled a road game against Oklahoma. “I would say there was one time my freshman year we went to Portland and even Spokane my freshman year and it just started to getting to be more and more. This past year was when it really hit me. We were playing in Oklahoma and there were more fans there for us than there was for Oklahoma,” she said. The University of Louisville had hosted a Native American heritage night that doubled as senior night for the Cardinals. The game was attended by more than 22,000 fans half of which were Native according to Shoni. The attention that both Shoni and her sister Jude have brought not only to Indian Country but to themselves has created an expectation that the two sisters become role models for Native American youth. Although many athletes have resisted the urge to take on the label of role model, Shoni is different and welcomes the challenge and the responsibilities that accompany it. She said that she wants to “…continue to be a role model because I feel like I am on the right path (because) of what I am doing. I would definitely want people to keep believing in me and to keep following me… I enjoy being a role model because I feel like I am going in the right direction.” Last year the Schimmel family toured the country and visited many reservations including some on the northern plains and the Pine Ridge Reservation. The trip opened up Shoni’s eyes to the diversity that exists in Native America. “There are a lot of Native Americans out there and that they are very beautiful and talented. Regardless of what it may be dancing, basketball, smarts, art.” she said. “I think that there are a lot of Native Americans that can be role models and achieve things.” Although Shoni’s college career has come to an end she was drafted by the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA with the 8th pick this past Monday night. The Dream seem to be a perfect fit for the Umatilla Thrilla as they play a fast paced run and gun style of play that mimics that of reservation basketball that Shoni has become known for. Shoni says she hopes to continue to inspire Native American youth to pursue their dreams. “Go out there and fulfill your dreams. That is what I am doing. I just had a dream of playing basketball at a young age and I stuck with it because I had a belief that I could go out there and do it. That is the main thing I can tell people. People can tell you ‘you’re not going to do this or not going to do that’ but don’t listen to them you need to go out there and prove them wrong. That is something that I had believed since I was a kid. Don’t be like Shoni and Jude. Be better than Shoni and Jude,” she said. With thousands of Native youth following her lead this may happen sooner than later. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com0) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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