SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis Catholic High School head varsity basketball coach Brittany Woodard was selected as a "Women of Impact" honoree for the Sacramento Kings' Purple Promise women's empowerment initiative, and will be recognized during Sunday's home game against the Chicago Bulls.
This recognition comes in the same week that Woodard announced that she is stepping down from her position with the Troubie basketball program.
Woodard assumed the helm of the SF varsity team in June of 2022, following a year on the Troubies' junior varsity staff. In her rookie season, she guided the program to a 23-6 overall record with a perfect 12-0 mark in the Delta League. St. Francis finished its second year as a member of the powerful Sierra Foothill League, ranking 11th among Sac-Joaquin Section Division II teams by MaxPreps.
Under Woodard's tutelage, the Troubies twice qualified for the CIF Northern California Regional, with three of her alumnae going on to play collegiate hoop: Jadyn Weaver (Folsom Lake College), Sydney Teoh (Chapman) and current player Lexi London (committed to Occidental). Woodard and her staff and players host an annual tournament for middle school teams plus a summer clinic for fourth- through ninth-graders.
Originally from Sacramento and a graduate of St. Francis' "Holy Hoops" rival Christian Brothers, Woodard played Division I basketball at Nevada (2008-10) then later Cal Poly, graduating from the latter in 2013. She began her coaching career at her prep alma mater, enjoying a two-year run with the Falcons' junior varsity program while completing her master of business administration from UC Davis.
Presented by Phoong Law, the Purple Promise initiative is "a multi-year initiative empowering women entrepreneurs and mentoring future leaders," according the official website. The program supports local non-profits My Sister's House and Single Mom Strong through the sale of Kings jerseys, and honors local women who "demonstrate leadership, service, and positive impact" in the Sacramento community.
Phoong Law founder and CEO Anh Phoong co-hosted a Women In Leadership Panel on February 28. An on-court basketball clinic, led by the Junior Kings coaching staff, follows the panel. For more on the Purple Promise, visit https://www.nba.com/kings/purplepromise. The month of March serves as Women's Empowerment Month, with Thursday's "Girls Night Out" game against New Orleans kicking off the campaign.
Woodard, who continues to enjoy a successful career in community engagement with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), announced her departure from St. Francis basketball during the team's year-end awards banquet this week. A search for a successor will begin as soon as possible.
