Sixers hire female scout Lindsey Harding

Two weeks ago, it was revealed that the Philadelphia 76ers were making a push to hire a qualified female scout. That has become reality.

On Friday, the Sixers confirmed an ESPN report that they have hired former Duke and WNBA star Lindsey Harding as a full-time scout for the coming season. Harding, according to ESPN, becomes only the second fulltime female scout for an NBA team. The first was current Dallas Mavericks assistant Jenny Boucek, who worked for the Seattle SuperSonics in 2006.

Harding, 34, was the first overall selection in the 2007 WNBA draft. She is in Africa and unavailable for comment, a Sixers official said.

A guard, Harding played for six teams in the WNBA from 2007-16. For her career, she averaged 9.8 points and 4.0 assists in 270 games.

“We are excited to add Lindsey to our program and look forward to the contributions she’ll make in the coming months,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said in an email. “After such a decorated playing career, she has emerged as one of the bright young minds in basketball operations. I look forward to her growth and development as a scout and member of our front office.”

Brown interviewed Harding when the Sixers summer-league team competed last month in Las Vegas.

“I personally enjoyed my time talking with her when I interviewed her in Las Vegas; although brief, it certainly reminded me of how much passion she has and how talented she is,” Brown said. “We feel her base will allow her to grow in our organization and our league.”