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The invention of basketball
Basketball was invented by a Springfield College instructor and graduate student James Naismith in 1891. Basketball spread very quickly and was an instant success. A few weeks after the game was invented, students introduced the game at their own YMCAs. Link: https://springfield.edu/where-basketball-was-invented-the-birthplaceofbasketball#:~:text=The%20game%20was%20invented%20by,and%20leaders%20in%20their%20fields. -
Introducing the game to women
Senda Berenson, physical education instructor at Smith College introduced women to basketball as a way to keep them in shape. She was known as the mother of women's basketball Link: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/berenson-senda -
First Women's Basketball Game
The first women's basketball was played at Smith College. No men allowed. A sophomore glass vs freshman class. This strikes the interest of other colleges and other colleges started teaching the game. Link : https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-womens-college-basketball-game-smith-college#:~:text=On%20March%2022%2C%201893%2C%20the,freshmen%20team%2C%205%2D4. -
First set of rules
Clara Gregory Baer was a physical education teacher at Sophie Newcomb College. She went on to publish the first set of rules in women's basketball (Banquette). Link:https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/shock/gens/wnbahistory.html -
First intercollegiate women's basketball game
The first intercollegiate game was played between Stanford and University of California at Berkeley. The game gained national notoriety and women soon were playing college basketball all over the country. Link: https://125.stanford.edu/the-first-game/ -
Penny Ann Early
Penny Ann Early becomes the first woman to play in a men’s professional league. She checked into the game, inbounded the ball, and then was replaced by a substitute. Link: https://womenshoopsblog.wordpress.com/womens-basketball-timeline-since-1891/ -
Conference of Physical Training
The conference of physical training was held at Springfield College. The goal was to make the rules uniform and address concerns the game. Stanford and University of California banned women’s basketball. The concern was the women's basketball was too physical. Link:https://sgtheatre.org/womens-basketball-timeline/ -
Out of bounds
Women’s Basketball Rules Committee creates the out-of-bounds rule that awards ball to opponent. The number of players changed to 6-9, 11 officials. Halves shortened from 20 minutes to 15 minutes. Link:https://womenshoopsblog.wordpress.com/womens-basketball-timeline-since-1891/ -
AAU
Amateur Athletic Union. This took the position that women or girls should not play basketball in public. Link: https://aaugirlsbasketball.org/ -
Nannie Helen Burroughs
National Training School for Women and Girls that was founded by Nannie Helen Burroughs brought young black women to play basketball. She was an active member in her community and a feminist. Link: https://library.arlingtonva.us/2020/05/21/this-week-in-19th-amendment-history-nannie-helen-burroughs/#:~:text=Nannie%20Helen%20Burroughs%2C%20who%20was,active%20member%20in%20her%20community. -
American Olympic Committee
In 1914 the American Olympic Committee opposes women’s athletic competition in the Olympics. -
No coaching
The only coaching that is to be done has to take place at halftime. Not only that but there was no timeouts, or substitutions. Link: https://womenshoopsblog.wordpress.com/womens-basketball-timeline-since-1891/ -
Rules
New rules developed over time such as the free throws and fouling situations. At 4 fouls player is warned, at 5 they are disqualified. Baskets with open bottoms. Bounce passes are legalized. Substitutes may be used, but players cannot re-enter the game. Three timeouts of five minutes each are available. https://womenshoopsblog.wordpress.com/womens-basketball-timeline-since-1891/ -
Industrial leagues
This was a time in which teams with players sponsored by the companies they work for begin to emerge. Companies begin to recruit women right out of high school and college. Link:https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-womens-basketball-in-america-3528489 -
NAAF
NAAF aka the national amateur and athletic federation was founded. This was an act committed to boys and girls being on an equal footing with the same standards, the same program and the same regulations. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23267240.1932.10624544?journalCode=ujrd16 -
Officials Ruling Committee
The first national women’s officiating board is formed. They publish the techniques for the Woman Official as Referee or Umpire in Girls Basketball. https://womenshoopsblog.wordpress.com/womens-basketball-timeline-since-1891/ -
Missouri Arledge
Missouri Arledge becomes first black woman to play in a national Amateur Athletic Union tournament. Arledge went to Philander Smith College, averaging 21.0 points per game. https://aausports.org/news.php?news_id=1962159 -
Denise Long
Denise Long is the first woman drafted by the NBA . She didn’t play for them, but she worked out with the team. She was the eighth round pick by Franklin Mieuli, then the owner of the San Francisco Warriors. Long had a 111-point performance in 1968 and broke many records. In 1982 she was named to the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame. https://data.desmoinesregister.com/hall-of-fame/single.php?id=472 -
Olympics
Women’s basketball became an Olympic sport. The Soviet team won the gold, USA won the silver. https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/olympic-basketball-history-dream-team-usa-soviet-union -
WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is formed The WBCA is a source of learning for coaches of women's and girls' basketball. The association provides resources, education, ideas and leadership. https://wbca.org/ -
Harlem Globetrotters
Lynette Woodard began playing with the Harlem Globetrotters, the first woman to play with that team. She was a four-time All-America at the University of Kansas. Today she is considered one of the best female players of all time. https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/lynette-woodard/ -
Hall Of Fame
Senda Berenson Abbott, L. Margaret Wade, and Bertha F. Teague were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. They were all the first women to be honored. https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-womens-basketball-in-america-3528489 -
WNBA
Before the WNBA there was the WBA (Women’s Basketball Association) which had two conferences the National and American Conference, those leagues lasted from 1993 to 1995. That same year, the American Basketball League (ABL) was announced, not long after that the WNBA was formed (Women's National Basketball Association).. a professional basketball league that is still in use today made up of 12 teams. https://www.one37pm.com/sports/wnba-history