Paynesville — History was made on Sunday, May 4, 2025, as Wellay T. Baar, head coach of newly promoted Division One club Spartacus, became the first female coach in the top tier of Liberian basketball.
Popularly known as “Well Drogba,” Baar led Spartacus from the third division straight to the first league last season — the first time a female coach has achieved such a feat in local basketball.
In what served as a revenge match for Spartacus — who lost last season’s best-of-five finals series to Highway Kings — Baar and her squad silenced all doubts with a commanding 74-41 victory.
A New Era in Liberian Basketball
For more than three decades, men have exclusively coached teams in Liberia’s top basketball division. But the 2025-26 season has ushered in a new era, with Baar competing alongside male coaches in a historic shift for the sport.
Baar’s Journey to the Top
Speaking with The Liberian Investigator, Baar, widely known as “Drogba” across Liberia, expressed her excitement about breaking new ground.
“I don’t look at sex in sports — coaching is about determination,” she said.
Baar began her coaching career years ago, guiding AME Zion University to multiple championships. Despite her success, she has declined offers to coach women’s clubs because she remains an active player in the women’s league.
According to Liberia Basketball Association regulations, no active player may coach in the same division they play in. In addition to coaching Spartacus, Baar plays for the Commission Women’s Team — the most decorated women’s basketball club in the country.
She credited former Montserrado County District 7 Representative Solomon George for mentoring her and helping shape her coaching career.
“Mr. George taught me a lot, and I must give him credit for the education and mentorship he provided over the years,” she said.
Spartacus’ Triumph Over Highway Kings
Reflecting on her team’s dominant win over Highway Kings — the same team that denied Spartacus the second division championship in the 2024-25 season — Baar praised her players for their focus and performance.
LBA Confirms Baar’s Historic Role
When contacted for confirmation, Liberia Basketball Association Secretary General Calvin Diggs affirmed that Baar is the only female coach currently in Liberia’s top basketball league.
He noted that Baar coached in the second division last season and has been involved in coaching for several years.
Diggs encouraged other former female players to consider coaching in the men’s division.
“We often see female coaches leading men’s teams in Europe, so our girls back home should take advantage and begin coaching in the men’s league,” he said.
Baar’s appointment marks a historic milestone in Liberian basketball, one that is expected to inspire a new generation of female coaches to break barriers and compete at the highest levels of the sport.
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