By B.D. Tharp, Women's Focus Magazine, September 2008 “Never give up,” says Jackie Stiles, a young woman whose dreams have come true. When she was a little girl, she always knew she’d play professional basketball, and she never let anyone tell her she was too short (5’ 8”) or from the wrong town. This Claflin, Kansas native followed her dreams. In high school she played basketball and tennis, and ran cross-country and track. At Missouri State University (formerly South Missouri State), she followed a 1,000-shots-per-day training regimen. Her hard work paid off. During her senior year, she won the Wade Trophy for shooting 1,062 points in a single season. She’s very proud of the fact that she was able to play at the Final Four at Missouri State. “No one believed we’d achieve it,” she says. Her father taught her to “know you’re the best, but never show it.” That humility and genuineness would help her become an icon in women’s basketball. Stiles played in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), first with the Portland Fire, then with the Los Angeles Sparks. In 2001, she was Rookie of the Year. In 2004, she played in the National Women’s Basketball League (NWBL) for the Lubbock Hawks. After a short stint in Australia in 2007, she retired due to the many injuries that had begun to plague her over the years. “I had 13 surgeries on my wrist, ankle and shoulder, and I now need number 14 on my knee,” Jackie says. “My body needed a break.” So, she began cycling. “I cycle for fitness because I can do it pain-free. Exercise is my drug.” One very important lesson she learned through all of this was the value of balance and relationships. “Basketball was my job,” she says. “I never went on a real job interview. I feel like I fell behind. I was lucky, though; I had a rare experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I got to do so many amazing things. I traveled and met amazing people.” She counts her grandfather as one of those amazing people in her life. “I’m the oldest of five kids, so my parents were really busy,” she says. “My grandpa took me to sporting events and supported me. He hated to fly, but he’d fly to see me play.” Stiles received her bachelor’s degree in sports and fitness promotion from Missouri State in 2002. Today she is a sports broadcaster and motivational speaker, and conducts basketball workout clinics for children and coaches. “I got to provide the color commentary for WSU,” she says. “That was fun.” The next phase of her life is still somewhat of a mystery. “It’s hard to face the unknown,” she says. “Being retired so young has been hard. To get to the level I was at, I put all of my energy into that one area.” However, she is inspired by Lance Armstrong’s ability to come back from cancer and win the Tour de France and loves Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky movies. Stiles is ready to reinvent herself. While she isn’t sure yet who she wants to be, this is one woman who doesn’t back away from hard work or adversity. There is no doubt that not only will she excel, her fans will be there cheering her to victory.