Spectators are always welcome at the basketball courts during Argonne’s 3-on-3 Basketball League season. This year, there’s something especially exciting to see — history being made. Argonne’s first all-woman basketball team, the Ions, has hit the court.
Ions players include Captain Laura Ellman (PMA), Co-captain Mary Jo Ridenour (FMS), Christine Adams (FMS), Laura Guest (PMA), Amanda Fulton (HR), Tona Kunz (CEPA), Anne Rock (BIO), Cindy Rock (FMS) and Stacy Sternberg (ESQ).
Argonne’s first all-woman basketball team hit the court during the 2016 3-on-3 Basketball League season.
Left to right: League Vice-president Lee Zachos (PMA), Ions Captain Mary Jo Ridenour (FMS), Ions Co-captain Laura Ellman (PMA), Laura Guest (PMA), Tona Kunz (CEPA), Christine Adams (FMS), Stacy Sternberg (ESQ), and league President Johnny Reed (ESQ)
“When I was first pulling together the team, I put out a call in my group for volunteers and only women responded,” said Ellman. “My co-captain, Mary Jo Ridenour, began recruiting other people — women — and I kind of became enamored with the idea of an all-woman team. But it didn’t start out that way. It wasn’t our original intent.”
“Women, not just here, but throughout industry and the national workforce, are looking to grasp networking opportunities through all forums including sports and workplace extracurriculars,” said Ridenour. “We enjoy competition, comradery and action as much as anyone.”
Brothers Johnny Reed (ESQ) and Leon Reed (HEP) formed the 3-on-3 Basketball League, an official Argonne-sponsored club, in 1992. Johnny Reed is the league’s 2016 president and Leon Reed serves as the league’s commissioner.
“The league includes players of all skill levels,” said Johnny Reed. “We’ve had division directors, scientists, foremen, custodians, office workers — people from all areas of the lab — interacting on the court. No one is the big guy or the little guy.
“We’ve always had ladies in the league,” said Reed. “But this is the first time there’s been an all-woman team. We all love having them as part of the league and everyone roots them on. The crowd erupts each time they score.
“Basketball is great exercise and builds comradery,” said Reed. “I’ve made friends through the league that I never would have met otherwise. It’s an outlet that gives people something exciting to look forward to when they come to work each day.”
“Johnny has created a forum that brings researchers, admins and operations folks together in a high-energy, friendly competition,” said Ellman. “Players are of all ages, ethnicities, education levels and gender.
“Really, the all-women team — as awesome as we are,” Ellman jokingly said with a smile, “is just a further manifestation of the inclusiveness and sportsmanship that has been made possible over the league’s last 24 years. I don’t want to minimize the significance of the Ions, but I don’t think we are what is special — it’s the games, the camaraderie and the energy that bring people together.”
Argonne and DOE employees and Argonne contractors are still able to join the league this season.
“Anyone can join a team until the last game of the regular season,” said Reed. “Players have to play in at least one game during the regular season to be eligible to play in the playoffs.”
3-on-3 Basketball League Schedule
| Regular season | June 20-August 4, 2016, on regular business days, 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. |
| Playoffs | August 8, 2016-TBD, 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. |
| Three-point shootout | August 5, 2016, 11:45 a.m.-noon |
| All-star game | August 5, 2016, noon-12:15 p.m. |
The full 2016 3-on-3 Basketball League roster, listing all teams and players, is available on Box.
by Diana Anderson (CEP)