A large, enthusiastic audience filled One of Us Bar for a coaches panel featuring UC San Diego head basketball coach Heidi VanDerveer and University of San Diego head basketball coach Blanche Alverson. Moderated by Dr. Nancy Rohland-Heinrich of National University and presented with Sport San Diego and Women’s Sports Xcelerator, the conversation had one clear theme: build the community around this game, together.

Both coaches talked about how they got here. VanDerveer, the youngest of five, grew up around educators and sees coaching the same way. Alverson was headed to medical school before basketball pulled her into coaching. Both stressed that their programs are about people first.

“You win with people,” VanDerveer said, describing a culture of excellence at UC San Diego that stretches well beyond the athletic department.

That people-first message carried into the biggest idea of the afternoon: who gets a seat at the table. VanDerveer pointed to the power of inclusion in women’s sports.

“I think when you have inclusion, when people feel like there’s spots at the table for them, that you can be celebrated for being an athlete, celebrated for being tall, celebrated for being strong, celebrated for being competitive...” she said.

Alverson tied the sport’s rising momentum to the people driving it. Speaking about the energy around the WNBA and the growth of women’s sports in San Diego, she said, “it truly is like women supporting women.”

Her ask of the crowd was simple. Keep showing up, and bring someone with you. “Continue to show up and bring a friend,” she said. VanDerveer raised the stakes with her own version: each one, teach one, and each one bring 10.

The coaches also made clear the rivalry is friendly and good for the city. Alverson noted that having two programs pushing each other raises the standard for San Diego women’s basketball. “Iron sharpens iron,” she said.

The next chance to answer that call is Nov. 7. The Bill Walton Classic comes to Pechanga Arena in San Diego, and the two D1 programs will meet head-to-head. The SDSU Aztec men’s team plays Colorado at 12:30 p.m., and USD and UC San Diego women tip off at 3 p.m.

For VanDerveer, the event is about honoring a San Diego legend and hoping it grows. “The only thing Bill liked better than tie-dye and the Grateful Dead is basketball and San Diego,” she said.

Both teams have reason to be excited. UC San Diego returns a core of four players who logged major minutes last season. USD brings back eight players, including what Alverson called arguably the best returning backcourt in its conference.

The panel ended with some friendly WNBA banter over the Valkyries and the Dream, plus a crowd that did not want to leave. That is the point. San Diego’s women’s basketball community is growing, and everyone is invited.