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Valerie Still: MVP Mom

© Colleen Bittner

It's not surprising that two-year-old Aaron Still Lock had a basketball since before his mother can remember. After all, his father Robert Lock played basketball for the University of Kentucky and then the Los Angeles Clippers. His mother, Valerie Still, who plays for the Columbus Quest, is a two-time Playoff MVP for the American Basketball League. However, the title she is most proud of is "Mom."

Valerie played basketball for the University of Kentucky as well. During her four years there, she scored more points than any other basketball player, male or female, at the university, with 2,763 points. Afterwards she went abroad, playing in Italy for 12 years. During that time, she earned an Italian National Basketball Championship. In 1995, she married Robert Lock, whom she met while interviewing his teammate on her television program in Italy. Together they returned to Kentucky and, on February 7, 1996 Aaron Still Lockwas born.

Although Valerie's job may be a little unusual, she faces many of the same challenges working mothers everywhere face. Aaron was only about six months old when the ABL's inaugural season began. "The first year it was really hard because Aaron was a baby and he had to come first." She was luckier than most working moms. Her husband traveled with the team the first season, so he could watch Aaron while Valerie played her games. Although now that Aaron is an active toddler and no longer goes along on every road trip, "He knows that I'm always coming back." Robert is an active parent, caring for Aaron while his wife is working. "In our house we shot the role-play out."

There are five other ABL players who have children. Edna Campbell of the Colorado Xplosion, has a teenage son, David. Taj McWilliams of the Philadelphia Rage has a nine-year-old daughter. Yolanda Griffith of the new Chicago team has a daughter, Candace, age 8. Shalonda Enis of the Seattle Reign has a six-year-old son named Chase. Joy Holmes, who was just traded from the Reign to the new Tennessee franchise, has a three-year-old son, Gary, Jr.

Mothers in the ABL face different standards than fathers in the NBA. There is a lot of criticism aimed towards the ABL moms for traveling while their children are small. While NBA dads miss their families, no one says they should quit their jobs. "There are double standards." Valerie said. "A lot of people think there are dad roles and mom roles." Most of the NBA players can afford nannies to help take care of their children. Most ABL players can't. Their sons and daughters stay with grandparents or with their fathers.

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