Fatima “TNT” Lister is a trailblazer in the basketball community as she became the first woman to don the red, white, and blue in 2011 since 1993. Her presence and hard work opened the doors for many more female Globetrotters to join the team.
TNT’s basketball journey started in the seventh grade. “I played my first basketball game at recess, and I fell in love with the game that day,” she says. She also excelled in volleyball and track and field during her teenage years – setting Colorado state records in both the long jump and triple jump – but…
Continue Reading
Fatima “TNT” Lister is a trailblazer in the basketball community as she became the first woman to don the red, white, and blue in 2011 since 1993. Her presence and hard work opened the doors for many more female Globetrotters to join the team.
TNT’s basketball journey started in the seventh grade. “I played my first basketball game at recess, and I fell in love with the game that day,” she says. She also excelled in volleyball and track and field during her teenage years – setting Colorado state records in both the long jump and triple jump – but she didn’t love those sports like she loved basketball. She was an all-conference selection in basketball in each of her four years in high school.
She began her college career at University of New Mexico before transferring to Temple University, where she was lucky enough to be coached by Hall of Famer, Dawn Staley. TNT says, “Coach Staley was not only a role model for me through her amazing basketball credentials, but she showed me balance – the balance between being a player, taking care of family, and giving back to the community. I admired her so much for her unique combination of kindness, toughness, and ability to make the team feel like a family.” The Globetrotters are like a family too, and TNT is honored to be a part of it. “Honestly, this means everything to me,” she says. “This team incorporates everything I love about basketball. Not only to play it, but to entertain, and to give back to the community. I've always dreamed of leaving a positive mark in basketball history, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so.”
“The best part about being a female Globetrotter is being able to inspire girls and young women to follow their dreams,” says TNT. This holds especially true for her daughter, Kali Rose. TNT went back to play for the world famous team only five months after having her baby. Adding, “I’m so proud to come back and do my thing and be able to tell my girl, “Hey, you can still chase your career when you become a mom.” Now, as a mom of two and a Globetrotter for over 10 years, TNT is inspired by the mothers around her and hopes to inspire others as well to pursue their goals while having a family and taking care of your own wellbeing.
TNT has made numerous national TV appearances, including Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox and Friends, Nickelodeon's Ryan’s Mystery Playdate, The Arsenio Hall Show, The Late Late Show, ESPN’s Outside the Lines and did voiceover work for Amazon Prime’s popular children’s book series “Pete the Cat” as Coach Fox.
Read Less
