When Latricia Trammell was inducted into the Seminole State College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2018, someone asked her if she ever thought she’d be a coach in the WNBA when she was still a student at the college. “Without a doubt,” Trammell said. “If sports have taught me anything, it’s that if you do the right thing, work hard—and win, impossible is nothing.”

Trammell, 55, has been a basketball coach for 30 years, but 2023 marked her first season as a head coach in the WNBA. The Dallas Wings named Trammell to the position last June.

Trammell’s interest in coaching began at an early age and her dream was nurtured by a family who shared her passion for the sport.

“I always knew that I wanted to teach the game of basketball. I have three older brothers; two played college basketball, and the other wrote about it. I saw how rewarding it was for them and what it meant to be a part of a team,” Trammel said.

She was a star player at Seminole High School, where she scored a then state record of 46 points in a single game. She graduated in 1986 and went on to join the then Seminole Junior College Belles. She would graduate from SJC in 1988 and go on to East Central University, where she earned a degree in biology.

“In high school, I accomplished a lot athletically, and once I went to college, I had to learn a new system and embrace a new role. I understand what that feels like and can mentor players going through this same transition from college to professional basketball,” Trammell said.

She cherishes her time as a Belles basketball player.

“My fondest memories are the relationships I built. The life lessons that have carried over to my professional career. I spent time with my family and had my dad as one of my college professors,” Trammell said.

Her father, Bob Trammell, served as a professor in the Math, Science and Engineering Division at the College and would later become the Vice President for Contiguous Education.

She began her coaching career at the high school level, working in both Oklahoma and Texas. She led Midwest City High School to two state championships and Billy Ryan High School, in Denton, Texas, to three district titles.

In 2003, she served as an assistant coach at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. Trammell then moved on to be an assistant coach at Oklahoma City University in 2005. She became the head coach of Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado in 2007 and guided the program to its first winning season in 12 years.

She returned to Oklahoma City University in 2012 and won back-to-back NAIA national championships in 2014 and 2015. She was named the NAIA Coach of the Year twice and compiled a record of 103-15.

Georgia State University hired her as an assistant coach in 2015, and she helped the team reach the Sun Belt Conference tournament semifinals for the first time in program history.

She then made the jump to the WNBA in 2017, joining the San Antonio Stars as an assistant coach. She moved to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2019 and worked under head coach Derek Fisher. She was known for her defensive focus and helped four players earn WNBA All-Defensive honors, including Candace Parker, who won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2020.

During her time as a player, Trammell focused on offense and struggled on the defensive side of the game. But as her coaching career took off, she had to quickly develop a keen understanding of a successful defense.

“In the early stages of my career, I was put in charge of defense. This was an area of growth for me. I had to dive into that side of the basketball, read books, go and watch practices, and pick coaches’ brains about the importance of defense. As a college coach going to the National Tournament for several years and winning back-to-back National Championships, it always depended on getting stops in the stretch and being disruptive,” Trammell said.

When recruiting players, Trammell looks for individuals with the skill set to play with and compete against the best players in the world. She seeks players who work hard, study the game of basketball, are coachable, want to make a difference and move the game forward positively, are disciplined, have a competitive spirit and have the will to win and make an immediate impact.

Landing her current role as head coach of the Dallas Wings was a dream come true for Trammell, but it came with its own set of challenges. The team ended the regular season with a record of 22-18 and placed second in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, the Wings won the First Round against the Atlanta Dream but lost in the WNBA Semifinals to the Las Vegas Aces. It was the Wings’ best performance since the franchise relocated to Texas in 2016.

“I want to win a championship while building relationships along the way and helping players use their platforms in areas that are important to them,” Trammell said.

In the off-season, Trammell works as a commentator for women’s college basketball. She found herself in the broadcasting booth because it would be a great way to stay in touch with college coaches and players. Commentating also allows her to connect with college coaches and players.

When she is around aspiring WNBA athletes, she thinks about the advice she wishes she had received during her own playing days.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Make or miss—enjoy the journey,” Trammell said.