The Guru WNBA Report: Isabelle Harrison: The Big Assist - Athletes Helping Others

By Andy Lipton

Leading the ‘Break

 

Growing up with a mother who was a nurse and a father who was a teacher and pastor (as well as an NFL football player), being involved in community activities to help others was second nature for Isabelle Harrison.

 

Isabelle is a veteran professional basketball player with the Chicago Sky of the WNBA, and has been helping others for a long time.

 

A Tennessee native from Nashville, Harrison was involved in church activities as a young person helping with many community events including food drives and back-to-school events.

 

In college at the University of Tennessee where Harrison was an All-American player and honored for her academic achievements, volunteering was emphasized.  

She gives credit to the late Pat Summit her coach her freshman year at Tennessee for this emphasis.

 

Harrison was involved in a multitude of community activities while with the Lady Vols.

For example, she participated in: Hoops for Hope, a basketball event for children with Down syndrome, building projects for Habitat for Humanity, visiting a nursing home with her teammates to help bring cheer to the residents, and visiting patients in the Ryan Seacrest Studio at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

 

In her senior year at Tennessee, Harrison was honored by being put on the Senior CLASS Award Second Team, a prestigious award which recognizes NCAA Division I senior student-athletes for their achievements in the community, the classroom, and in athletic competition and for their character.

 

Harrison is one of 12 WNBA players participating in a mentorship program run by Voice In Sport which has partnered with the WNBA.  Her first event will be in Tennessee.  

She is excited by this upcoming event, but the details are still under wraps.

 

Harrison is also involved in spreading awareness about Lupus disease, a disease which has impacted her family, working with the Lupus Foundation of America.