Renee Montgomery has been around the game for as long as she can remember. Born and raised in St. Albans, West Virginia, Renee quickly became immersed in the world of basketball after her sisters started playing. It was only up from there! Fast-forward a few years and Renee was embarking on her collegiate career at the University of Connecticut—a place where she would go on to achieve a series of accolades on the court, and solidify her dream of playing the sport at the professional level. The rest is history. As the fourth pick in the first round of the 2009 WNBA Draft, the Minnesota Lynx selected Renee. She had done it. She had reached her lifelong dream of playing the game she loved dearly since a very young age, at the highest level, among some of the world’s top athletes. This was only the beginning. Throughout her journey in the league, Renee has not only left her mark on the court, but she has also worked to foster a strong legacy off of it. Her passion for supporting the youth has inspired her to start her own foundation—the Renee Montgomery Foundation—, where she organizes events, camps, and community initiatives that are driven by pillars such as leadership, self-discipline, teamwork, and education. She doesn’t stop there.
Currently, Renee is stepping away from the game to focus on her passion for social justice. From organizing informational events to participating in powerful initiatives such as the More Than A Vote campaign, Renee is committed to using her voice and platform to empower others to come together to be the change. She is committed to shining light on the bigger picture—one that extends well beyond the game of basketball.
How was that transition from college into the league like? What were some of the challenges that you faced early on in your career?
It was interesting. I felt like I had to start all over again—in the sense that in college you build a name for yourself, and then when you go to the pros, you have to start back at the bottom. It was a feeling of putting that “work hat on,” and being excited to see how I would measure up. One of the challenges was losing. You know, I had gotten used to being at UCONN, and we were used to winning a large amount of our games. When you get to the pros, everybody is talented and every team has 12 All-Americans on it, so you start to lose. For me, that was hard to deal with at first—losing just on a regular-basis.
As you have continued to learn and evolve throughout your career, what are some ways that you have remained motivated and passionate about the game?
I think I have a passion for the game just because I love it. I am one of those players, that when you watch me play, I play with the passion that drives me. That is what keeps me motivated—the love for the game. If people understood that, they would probably understand why I sat out this season because my passion right now is somewhere else. If that is what drives and motivates me, it would be a disservice to my coach and teammates to even be in the bubble.
"I am one of those players, that when you watch me play, I play with the passion that drives me. That is what keeps me motivated—the love for the game."
- Renee on her source of motivation throughout her career
Transitioning a little bit off the court, let’s talk about your foundation! Could you share more with us about the inspiration behind starting the Renee Montgomery Foundation?
Yes! So last year I started my nonprofit—I had wanted to start it 10 years ago honestly, but I just didn’t have the time. You know, in the summer we play in the WNBA and in the off-season we play overseas. There is usually two weeks between each season, so I never just took out the time to get it started. Once I started playing overseas (though), that was the first thing on my list. I knew that I wanted to spread a lot of positivity on a large scale. The reason I knew that was because people always tell me that I am naturally happy and naturally positive, and I wanted to just give that through events—that is the gist of why I started my foundation. Now, with the climate of America, I have a clear view of where I can fit in and how I can make a change.
The mission and principles of your foundation focus on things such as leadership, self-discipline, team-work, etc.—skills that can transfer off the court. How important was it for you to incorporate those pillars which can propel someone to succeed both on and off the court?
I think those skill sets that are listed as part of my mission statement are exactly what I think every person can benefit from in everyday life. As athletes, we are trained to learn that discipline. We learn how to be good teammates because we have to, but I think a lot of people can benefit from those things. Even in my events, I incorporate (those principles). For instance, I threw a Juneteenth pop-up block party that was informative—it was called “What is Juneteenth?”—, and we had people working together, handing out food, and more. People didn’t even know they were being helpful, good teammates, and good neighbors—that’s what it is all about. I want them to not even know they are doing it, and it starts being a lifestyle.
We are living in a transformational period where communities are coming together and having tough conversations surrounding topics such as social injustice, educational inequality, etc. You have really used your platform to share your voice on these topics. What has this experience been like for you?