In March of 1986, Molly was inducted into the Iowa Basketball Hall of Fame as the only player inducted whose team did not play in the State Tournament. She had spent the last couple of years promoting women's basketball by appearing at camps, clinics, and working in booths at the National Sporting Goods Shows and at the Women's College Final Four Tournaments. It was at the Final Four in 1986 that Molly was approached to help launch a new league, the National Women' s Basketball Association (WNBA). She was ready and willing as always to do what she could to help. This league hoped to survive by having central ownership of all the teams and Molly passed on the opportunity to play in order to be more involved in the management of the league. She had hoped to steer the league clear of past difficulties. She was named as the Assistant Commissioner of the NWBA and she held several press conferences to promote the league and Women's Pro Basketball. But the NWBA never got off the ground. In 1988, Bill Byrne contacted Molly with his ideas for another league. Once again she tried to help by meeting with several potential owners for the league, some of whom were owners in the NBA. But the league never materialized and Molly continued playing basketball in men's leagues and pick up games and appearing at camps. In 1989, she married John Kazmer, who was a Division I player under coaches Jerry Tarkanian and Lute Olson.
Another opportunity in basketball did not arise until 1995 when she was hired by Liberty Sports to promote women's professional basketball. Liberty was involved with the WBA league that played three seasons in the mid 1990's and Molly approached them with an idea of creating a three on three tournament for televison in order to make the public more aware of the top players in women's basketball. Once again she travelled to the College Final Four Tournaments, NSGA Shows and to the 1996 Olympic Trials. Molly met with the President of Liberty Sports to discuss their interest in expanding the WBA to a national Women's Pro Basketball League. However, during this time, the current womens' pro league, the WNBA made announcements of their formation and near the same time, Liberty Sports was taken over by Fox Sports. Molly considered pursuing a career with the WNBA, but instead decided to stay home to raise her son Casey, now 9, and daughter Kenzie, now 5 years old. In 1999 she was inducted into the Grandview College Athletic Hall of Fame in Des Moines, IA.
During her days as a professional basketball player, Molly proved herself among the best with her peers, Nancy Lieberman, Carol Blazjowski and Ann Meyers. She excelled in the sport through many adversities and never gave up on making Women's Pro Basketball in the United States a reality. As one of the best offensive players in the women's game - she established scoring records that may never be broken. The records set by the pioneers in the sport should be recognized by the WNBA.
Machine Gun Molly was a player who was ahead of her time. One can only wonder what she would have done in today's game with a closer three- point line and the sensation she would have created in the sports marketing world. She was an inspiration and role model to many at a time when women's athletics was just on the rise. Her attractive appearance and personality made her a favorite of the press and of the fans. She filled her off-court hours with interviews and promotional appearances knowing she was in a position to help increase the attendance figures that were so crucial to the league's success. She always made time for the fans, signing every last autograph and encouraging the young female players that came to watch her play.
But most importantly, Molly Bolin Kazmer was always the first to step up to promote a future for women's pro basketball and gave it all she had, often without any personal gain and often with personal sacrifices. She is a true pioneer in women's basketball, and should be remembered as such.
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