Out of all the names that appeared in the 2006 Draft, the one with the most attention was Margaret Walters.

It wasn't that she was the best player. Far from it, there were clearly stronger athletes in the pool. But she was different. To understand why, you need to understand the history of the league a little.

There had been women from the beginning of the FBA. The league was coed from the start, and while the rosters were predominantly male in the first year-- and today, actually-- women played and played well. But it wasn't long after those first contracts expired that the FBA had several years of no women on the court at all. And when they started to trickle back in during the late 70's and 80's, they were almost exclusively perimeter shooters, kept out of the paint and left in the safe open woods. And yes, it was sexism. Even when FBA legend Vicki Turner (Red Fox, F) arrived, male athletes were fined for making comments about vixens not belonging on the hardwood. Reporters casually spoke of the "limitations" of women athletes. And it wasn't until the drafting of Rachel Barsky (Alaskan Malamute, F) in 2011 that any woman had played in a Howlers jersey at all.

Which is why "Brickhouse" made such a buzz. The hyena had grown up on tough New York streets and was as comfortable on a street court as a wood one. Her highlight reel showed none of the grace of other women ballers at the time, but instead showed a raw, physical style, the hyena preferring to penetrate and penetrate hard. She would attack the cup, often making contact and fearlessly draw fouls with her big frame. Surprising, considering she only stood 6' 2" and was clearly a guard. But while her shot from the woods was spotty (ha!) at best, she had a knack for draining shots while collapsing on top of some unlucky defender.

So, of course, she was compared to Shane Rufus (Red Wolf, G).

Fang was already in his sixth season and in his prime. The hard-nosed style of backcourt basketball he had introduced in 2000 was paying dividends, making the Howlers a deep playoffs team. He had built that reputation from tough, physical play and from his off-the-court antics, making him the poster pup for in-your-face basketball. So when reporters first started talking about Walters, her game was "Fang-like" and "Howlers-styled". Some even dared call her "Lady Shane" as she was preparing for the draft, and thankfully the nickname "Rufette" never caught on.

Because as far as Shane was concerned, f--- that noise.

About a month into the 2006-2007 season, the Howlers had their first game against the Albany Alphas who had chosen the burly hyena with their 4th overall pick. Shane was ready. Walters had already established her professional reputation with a number of brutal highlights in the kennel, but this was her first time setting foot in Treasure State Arena. This was Fang country, and no one-- especially no rookie-- especially no woman-- was going to mess with that.

Being point guard, Fang was able to dictate the team's plays. In the second quarter, Walters came off the bench, and Fang set his trap. A quick weak side pass would force the Alphas to swap back court defenders and put two guard Walters on Rufus. Then a massive pick from Nohea Holokai (Orca, C) would flatten the hyena and let her know the score. But just as Shane crossed over, Walters swung out her paw and knocked the rock. In the scramble for possession, Walters came up with it with Rufus chasing her down, pushing her back, snarling the whole way to the hoop. He kept his paws up to block her shot attempt, but Walters stopped in the low post and passed back to her team's point guard. The red wolf turned his focus, preparing to jump for the block, but the point faked and kicked to the perimeter. The ball suddenly passed again and again around the arc as the Alphas kept it in motion, Shane barking at his teammates, keeping his eye on the rock-- but not on Walters. At the last moment Shane found the hyena had curled under the basket and charged from the baseline, and with the Howlers still reeling from the transition, a final pass put the ball in the charging hyena's paws.

The collision under the hoop could be heard from the cheap seats. Shane got knocked flat on his tail as Margaret landed on top of him, chucking up the ball wild in mid-collision. First there was a whistle. Then the sound of the net.

Then finally, a lick.

"Gotcha," was the first word Walters ever said to the sneering wolf.

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A birthday gift for  shanerufus courtesy of  foxenawolf!