- Anucha Browne Sanders
Anucha Browne Sanders is an American former women's
basketball player, collegiate star atNorthwestern University , former executive for theNew York Knicks of theNBA . She is also known for winning asexual harassment lawsuit that she filed againstNew York Knicks general managerIsiah Thomas andMadison Square Garden .Playing career
In 1982, she enrolled at
Northwestern University , where she was a star on the school's women's basketball team. She was selected to the all-Big Ten team three times, and Big Ten Player of the Year twice; she also holds the all-time conference records for scoring (2,307 points) and rebounds (951), and in 1985 led all Division I women's basketball players nationwide in scoring average with 30.5 points per game. According to an article published by Northwestern University, Sanders may be "pound for pound, one of the most accomplished athletes in the school's history". [ [http://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/northwestern/summer2003/features/coverstory/sidebar1.htm "Slam Dunk in the Big Apple"] "Northwestern Magazine", accessed2007-10-03 ]Browne graduated from Northwestern in 1985 with a degree in communications, and was selected to the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. [ [http://nusports.collegesports.com/ot/nw-hall-of-fame.html "Northwestern sports page] ", accessed
2007-10-03 ] She later would complete a Master's degree in Marketing Communication atFlorida State University .After graduation, Browne continued to participate in organized basketball to some extent. She was briefly on the United States Women's National team, and participated in several organized exhibition tournaments. [ [http://www.usabasketball.com/history/all-time_w-roster.html "USA Women's Basketball All-Time Roster"] , accessed
2007-10-03 ] However, an attempt at a pro career in theWNBA (which did not start operations for more than a decade after her graduation) did not pan out; she applied for that league's draft and was not selected.Post basketball career
After her collegiate career ended, Browne Sanders worked for eleven years for
IBM in several roles; her final role was as a program manager in the company's Worldwide Sports Office. As program manager, she oversaw IBM's marketing sports-related marketing activities, including at theOlympic Games in 1996, 1998, and 2000.In 2000, Browne Sanders was hired by the
New York Knicks as a marketing executive.In 2002, she was promoted to the position of senior vice president of marketing and business operations by the franchise, making her one of the most powerful female
black executives in pro sports in theUnited States . She held that role for nearly four years, until January 2006, when she was fired.Honors and awards
*"Sports Business Journal" 's "40 under 40" list, given to up-and-coming young sports executives. [ [http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.feature&featureId=1282 "Sports Business Journal"] , accessed
2007-10-03 ]
*1993: Inducted into the Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame
*Northwestern University's "Athlete of the Decade" for the 1980s.Personal
Sanders is married with three children. She is currently the senior associate athletics director for marketing and senior woman administrator at the
University at Buffalo .exual harassment lawsuit
Several days after her firing in January 2006, Browne Sanders filed a
sexual harassment lawsuit againstNew York Knicks general managerIsiah Thomas andMadison Square Garden (the corporation which owns the Knicks and several other New York sports franchises). The suit claimed that Thomas sexually harassed her, starting with his hiring by the Knicks in December 2003. It further claimed that her firing was in retaliation for her complaints about the alleged harassment. The lawsuit alleged that after Browne Sanders' lawyer told Madison Square Garden of her complaint, Madison Square Garden forced her out of work while it investigated the situation. At the conclusion of the investigation, Madison Square Garden fired Browne Sanders, allegedly because of "an inability to fulfill professional responsibilities."The lawsuit sought unspecified damages, and reinstatement to her former position with the Knicks. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/24/AR2006012401792.html "Thomas Is Sued for Harassment"] , "
The Washington Post ",2006-01-25 . Accessed2007-10-03 .]In August 2006, the lawsuit was expanded to include Knicks and Cablevision owner
James Dolan as a defendant.On
October 2 2007 , the jury returned a verdict finding Thomas and Madison Square Garden liable for sexual harassment. The jury also levied $11.6 million inpunitive damages against MSG, but not Thomas. The defendants indicated that they would appeal the verdict. [cite news|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7289504|publisher="Fox Sports "|title=Jury: Isiah, MSG liable in harassment case|date=2007-10-02 . Accessed2007-10-03 ] However, onDecember 10 ,2007 , the Knicks announced that the lawsuit had been settled for an unspecified amount, [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/12/10/2007-12-10_knicks_settle_anucha_browne_sanders_suit.html Knicks settle Anucha Browne Sanders suit ] ] later revealed to be $11.5 million. [cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/sports/basketball/11garden.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin|publisher="The New York Times "|title=Garden Settles Harassment Case for $11.5 million|date=2007-12-11 . Accessed2007-12-11 ]References
External links
* [http://wolves.nba.com/knicks/community/holiday_party.html Knicks take a time-out for kids]
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