Former UWGB star Chandra Johnson eager to grow girls’ basketball with new Team 1848 leadership role

HOBART, Wis. (WFRV) – Former UWGB star Chandra Johnson has traded in her high-tops for a clipboard with a fellow previous professional basketball player. Johnson is the new director of girls’ basketball for Harry Boyce’s Team 1848 AAU program.

“I wanted to join Team 1848 because I felt like I had an amazing leadership opportunity to really grow something special out here,” Johnson told WFRV’s Lauren Helmbrecht.

Boyce, who played professional basketball internationally, wanted Johnson to expand the girl’s side of Team 1848 because her work ethic was familiar. Johnson was the first UWGB-alum to play in the WNBA when she signed with the Los Angeles Sparks. Now, the two former pros know they need to help grow women’s basketball.

“The only way that we are going to get better and break the barriers for females (in basketball) is by having more of them in charge,” Boyce said of Johnson while coaching alongside her at a girls basketball open house.

But Johnson can’t think about coaching or growing the girls’ game without thinking of her former coach, Kevin Borseth.

“When I talk about stepping into a leadership role, I mean (Borseth) has created some of that, right?

The recently retired Phoenix women’s coach gave Johnson something she desperately needed during her four-year career at Green Bay from 1999 to 2003: belief.

“He just cared as much for you off the court as on the court, and I want to emulate that with the girls coming in.”

Johnson and Team 1848 will hold girls’ basketball tryouts on July 30th and August 1st. More information can be found here .

For Johnson’s full interview with WFRV Sports, click the video above.

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