The University of California, Berkeley, recently hosted the fifth annual Raising the B.A.R. Invitational, an event that has become a crucial fixture on the college basketball calendar. Founded by Cal Head Coach Charmin Smith, the tournament is designed to highlight and elevate Black female leadership in the sport, bringing together four teams helmed by Black women coaches.

This year's centerpiece was a powerful roundtable conversation featuring Smith alongside three peers: Carrie Moore (Harvard), Tomekia Reed (Charlotte), and Keisha Newell (Oakland). The coaches delivered an unfiltered discussion about the challenges of their roles, their visions for the future, and the deep sisterhood that sustains them.

Smith explained that the tournament's foundation goes back to the summer of 2020. What was formerly the Cal Classic was quickly rebranded into the Raising the B.A.R. Invitational, with the bar standing for Basketball, Activism, and Representation.

“I didn't see the same attention being put into social justice [after the pandemic eased],” Smith said, explaining the motivation for the permanent change. “It felt like this was something I had to do. We don't get these opportunities as frequently, so it really did feel like this was something I had to do.”

The conversation quickly turned to how the media can better serve the cause of diversity. Oakland’s Keisha Newell urged for a mindset shift in coverage. “I want the media to understand that conversation is not a competition,” Newell stated. “I would love to see the media just celebrate instead of separate.”

The coaches also reflected on the immense cultural weight they carry, particularly when elevating under-resourced programs. Tomekia Reed, the HBCU National Coach of the Year while at Jackson State, spoke passionately about the mission of Black institutions.

“A lot of people are unaware that HBCUs were built to uplift, educate and empower Black students when no other institution would,” Reed said. “To be named the National Coach of the Year for me is just like, I'm carrying a legacy. The legacy lives on of excellence, of intention.”

Meanwhile, Carrie Moore, the first Black female head coach at Harvard Women's Basketball, discussed her mentorship with men’s coach Tommy Amaker. She shared that he taught her the importance of “having passion and persistence and patience and finding players along the way.”

Newell, a successful coach, wife, and mother, shared her strategy for managing her many roles. “I pray for, instead of balance, I think I pray for alignment because I know it's going to be some days where my kids need me. It's going to be some days when my team needs me more,” she said.

A central point of the discussion was the daily struggle against racial and gender stereotypes in their professional lives. Moore described being challenged when she advocated passionately for resources.

“I think that is a stereotype, right, that I can just walk into a room and they're gonna think that I am aggressively speaking some kind of way, and I'm just passionate about winning,” Moore said.

Reed echoed this, recalling being told she couldn't bring the energy of her HBCU program to Charlotte. She questioned the double standard: “Kim Mulkey fans have taken her personality, and it's not frowned upon, they celebrate that. So why not celebrate the personality that I want, which is exciting, which is passionate.”

The sisterhood in the room was palpable, with the coaches offering powerful advice to those who feel overlooked.

“Even when you don't believe in yourself, just keep going and just keep trying because there's so many people out there that are far less qualified than you,” Smith encouraged.

Reed offered a mantra for resilience: “I realized overlooked does not mean undervalued. And that’s what I would tell a younger coach.”

The conversation ended with shout-outs to those who paved the way. Keisha Newell gave praise to Joni Taylor for spiritual encouragement and pushing her into rooms she wasn't in. Carrie Moore shouted out Charmin Smith herself: “I would say Charmaine, honestly, as somebody that's been there for me throughout my journey in coaching... I think for me has been incredibly inspirational.”

Finally, one coach gave thanks to the living legend who set the standard for their collective movement. “I'm going to say Dawn [Staley],” she said. “I think she is someone who says what she needs to say and has our backs as black females... I'm just really grateful for the path that she has laid for us.”

The Raising the B.A.R. Invitational once again proved that these coaches are not only leading their teams to victory but are actively shaping the culture of basketball and representation for generations to come.