NBA hires its first full-time female assistant coach

The WNBA's Becky Hammon battling the LA Spark's Jenna O'Hea. This week Hammon was named the new assistant coach for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs

For many reasons, the NBA's San Antonio Spurs are considered one of the premiere franchises in the league — but this week they probably got a lot more fans.

For many reasons, the NBA's San Antonio Spurs are considered one of the premiere franchises in the league — but this week they probably got a lot more fans. Yesterday the team announced they'd hired WNBA player Becky Hammon to be their new assistant coach.

Hammon, who was a standout player for the San Antonio Stars, will become the first full-time female coach in the NBA – but you might be surprised to find out that this isn't an isolated event for the NBA.

Guest host Tess Vigeland talks to

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, a writer for Slate who wrote a recent column about the NBA and a number of high-profile hires they've done over the years.

We'll ask why the NBA seems to be so open to hiring women, and how that compares with other sports leagues.