Williams Out to Face Challenges and Break Down Barriers
Guard intends to break down a male-dominated field like a defense
Mike Brohard
In recognition of Black History Month, Colorado State student-athletes are sharing what the month-long celebration means to them.
Nothing about her personality suggests she will back down from a challenge. Everything about her as a competitor tells her to be aware of possible pitfalls and how to navigate them should they ever arise.
Because they don’t always. Still, Tori Williams knows it is always best to be prepared. To have an eye open while hoping for the best.
It works on the basketball court for the senior guard, and she’s confident the same approach will serve her well when she ventures out into the business world.
Specifically, sports management.
“The biggest thing that has me worried is being a female.” Williams said. “I’ve read about when women are sexually harassed, but what makes me excited is I want to be the change, and I want to help women think they can go into male-dominated fields and be confident about what they’re doing.”
Williams can find a wide range of inspirations to choose from. Former Colorado State women’s basketball standout Becky Hammon is near the top of the list. But for every Kim Ng, Sarah Thomas and Kelsey Martinez, there is a story about a man trying to use his place of authority over a woman.
She may be a reporter, or even a company employee. Williams sees these stories on the news, and while they make her made, she will not allow them to discourage her pursuit.
By nature, she’s a positive person. She intends to hold on to the feeling.
She’s realistic, too. And driven, and that’s what Brooke Butkovsky, the director of operations for CSU women’s basketball, sees every day.
“It is hard, but definitely something that everyone can overcome,” Butkovsky said. “The advice I’ve given her is to never take no as an answer and be herself. She is one who will do all the work necessary to get the job done. She had the experience working over at football, so she’s had a taste in the field of recruiting for what she was doing for them. I told her to work as hard as you can and don’t let that scare you.”
Sports is deeply embedded into Williams’ DNA. Not just her, but for her family. So the idea of keeping sports as part of her life when she pursues a career is more than enticing to her. She understands the day will come when she’s no longer playing basketball competitively, but the idea of walking away from sports all together doesn’t sit well with her.
She transferred from Utah, and once on campus, she became involved with the football program, helping Jessica Jefferson, who was the director of recruiting under then-head coach Mike Bobo. She did campus tours and helped with paperwork, and with her background as an athlete, she was able to answer questions some others could not.
During the season, she is the person Butkovsky can’t shake, so it’s a good thing she doesn’t mind having Williams pepper her with questions.
“Every day. Even on the away trips, she wants to see how everything is put together, which is awesome,” Butkovsky said. “She wants to learn, she wants to the see the aspects that bring us a successful trip or a season. I love that. I want to teach whoever wants to learn what I do. I like that she pesters me, because that shows she’s very passionate about the field and moving forward into that career.”
I feel that we always need to stick up for what we believe in and how we feel. I feel like you should not have your job prospects based off of the color of your skin or the way your hair is styled.Tori Williams
Learning about her sport and working in football has only increased her intentions to walk the professional path into sports. In both instances, be it pestering Butkovsky or when she worked for football (an opportunity which lessened during the pandemic), Williams is completely committed to her pursuits.
And it was great being a young woman and thinking she could open doors for others.
“Especially interning for football, girls saw I was doing that. They would ask me about it, and I’d say, ‘go do it’. It’s super fun and we need more women. I’m very encouraging for girls who want to step out of the bubble and do things that aren’t normal, and that’s working in a male-dominant sport. I was nervous at first, but working under Jessica, she made it amazing. The vibes are different from football to basketball. It was cool seeing Moby Arena and then Canvas Stadium, how they act.”
She is also keenly aware as a Black woman another layer may be added to how people view her.
For instance, studies suggest Black women who straighten their hair have a better chance of landing a job. That makes no sense to her, and Williams has no inclination to change anything about herself to open a door.
She believes her personality and work ethic should speak highly of who she is and how hard she will work to succeed. That should be enough.
And she’s correct.
“I think a lot of it is being a woman, but also being a Black woman, because we get treated differently just by the color of our skin,” Williams said. “I feel that we always need to stick up for what we believe in and how we feel. I feel like you should not have your job prospects based off of the color of your skin or the way your hair is styled. If that person is personable and good with what they’re doing at their job, their hair isn’t going to affect what they’re doing. That’s our culture. That’s disrespecting our culture.”
The idea of Williams becoming somebody else to land a job brings a smile to Butkovsky’s face. She knows that will never happen, and she’s positive Williams will knock on every door possible until one opens.
Besides, she believes Williams not only possess the qualities people will want to hire, but also the passion to help lead the way for others.
“I have no doubt that she will excel,” Butkovsky said. “I feel like every day I’m seeing something in the news with a woman working with the football or the NHL. That’s very inspirational. Even as a kid, that was something I wanted to do. I wanted to be the first woman to work in the NHL or to own a team. I think nowadays, women have such a louder voice which can make those things happen. It’s incredible to see this has changed throughout the years and will continue to change. There will be more women in a male-dominated field.”
Williams intends to be one of them. Next year, she’ll remain at Colorado State and enroll into the sports management Master’s program with Dr. Albert Bimper. He’s another person who encourages her to chase dreams and break down barriers. Her talks with him are uplifting, as she knows he wants to see Black women succeed in the world.
She doesn’t want anything handed to her, either. She’s ready to be true to her roots on the hardwood. With the ball in her hands, she knows how to read a defense, find an opening and drive with intent.
And as for the finish? Always take your best shot.