In 2019, Vanessa Brooks made history as the first Black woman in the NBA to hold dual credentials as a physical therapist and athletic trainer.
The trailblazer told Essence that “I knew my goal was to work in the NBA,” but her mentors were less than enthusiastic when she revealed her aspirations.
“My mentors were coming from the correct place. They just told me the truth: “There is no one there before you.” Are you certain you don’t mean the NCAA or WNBA? “There’s nothing wrong with those entities, but I said I wanted to do that one first,” Brooks explained.
Indeed, Black women are underrepresented in athletic training. According to this report, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) had an average membership of 34,635 from 2003 to 2016.[and] Black women have made up only 2%-4% of the total female membership. These findings are comparable to the demographics of sister allied health professions.”
Nonetheless, Brooks made a breakthrough, noting, “We’ve had more and more coming into the league” since she began. “It’s like a sisterhood that’s started to grow, which has been amazing.”
Brooks’ mother is from Jamaica, and her father is from England. Brooks grew up in Miramar, Florida, and claimed she always enjoyed basketball.
“Unfortunately, basketball did not like me,” she told The Oklahoman, explaining that she tore her ACL, MCL, and meniscus while playing AAU basketball before her senior year of high school.
“That’s when I found out a lot more about physical therapy,” Brooks told me.
Brooks previously worked as the head athletic trainer and physical therapist for the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s Gatorade League (G League) franchise.
Brooks worked with Wake Forest University’s Division I Athletics while pursuing her Physical Therapy Sports Fellowship. In 2019, she received her accreditation as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy.
She worked in Duke’s Sports Medicine Clinic, did part-time outreach to surrounding high schools and a semi-professional football team, and completed her Physical Therapy Residency.
The pioneer earned her EMT certification while working at Grady Hospital’s Ortho-Trauma unit and as a Head Athletic Trainer at an Atlanta Public School. During her two-year stint with Atlanta Public Schools, she established an Athletic Trainers’ Union through AFSCME membership.
Brooks also co-founded a sports medicine program to avoid injuries that linked local Durham AAU basketball teams to Duke Sports Medicine.
Brooks first became involved in sports medicine while obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training at The University of Georgia.
She earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Emory University in Atlanta. She also holds certifications in strength and conditioning and dry needling.
She was recognized for her community involvement and professional competence with the Francis A. Curtiss and Emory University Division of Physical Therapy Award. Brooks received the Dr. Butch Mulherin, Soule, and Marion Hubert awards for her exceptional work ethic, support for female athletes, and dedication to sports training.
Brooks said her dream job is “worth it,” despite its demands and frequent travel.
The achiever advises others, “Please do not let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.”