Women's Sports Over Time

Wilma Rudolph Wins Three Gold Medals

Aug 25, 1960

In the Olympic Games in Rome 1960 Wilma Rudolph takes the gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay and breaks three world records.

Title IX is Signed into Law

Jul 23, 1972

President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law.
Title IX: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any education program or activities receiving Federal Financial assistance."

Billie Jean King Wins the Battle of the Sexes

Sep 20, 1973

Defeated Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes which empowered women and contributed to the women's movement.

Women's Sports Foundation is Founded

Jan 1, 1974

Founded in 1974 by tennis legend, Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.

USA Women's Basketball Team Wins Silver

Jul 27, 1976

In Montreal, Canada, the first-ever Women's Olympic Basketball Team Compettition takes place. So Nancy Lieberman became the youngest player in Olympic history to win a medal.

Sixth Place Finish at Bristol

Aug 28, 1977

Janet Guthrie became the first woman to compete in the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500. Guthrie had a four-year NASCAR career and her sixth-place finish at Bristol is still the best by a woman.

First Woman to Sign a Free Agent Contract

Sep 1, 1979

Ann Meyers Drysdale was the first and only woman to sign a free agent contract with the National Basketball Association (NBA) team, the Indiana Pacers.

1980 Summer Olympics Boycott

Jan 20, 1980

65 countries, led by President Carter and the U.S. protested the 1980 Olympics following the Soviet Union's 1979 invasion of Afghanistan. The boycott showed that sports were not above world politics.

Women in Broadcasting Gains Opportunity

Jan 1, 1987

Since women's participation in sports is gaining ground, statistics show a rise in viewers and more opportunities open up for former female athletes such as Mary Carillo, Ann Meyers, Cheryl Miller, and Robin Roberts to become sportscasters just as male ex-athletes have.

The WNBA Concept is Approved

Apr 24, 1996

Women's basketball announces "We Got Next" as the NBA Board of Governors approves the WNBA.

The U.S. Defeats China to Win the FIFA World Cup

Jul 10, 1999

The U.S. Women's soccer team beats China at the Rose Bowl with the largest crowd ever to watch a women's sports event on national television and in person.

First Woman to Score in a Men's Football Game

Aug 30, 2001

Placekicker Ashley Martin, became the first woman to play and score in an NCAA Division I American football game.

1st Woman to Lead the Indy 500

May 29, 2005

Danica Patrick becomes the first women to lead the Indy 500, which led her to a spot in NASCAR.

Lieberman Comes Out of Retirement

Jul 22, 2008

At the age of 50, Nancy Lieberman comes out of retirement on a 7-day contract with the Detroit Shock. Lieberman broke her previous record as the oldest woman to play in the WNBA.

Lieberman is the 1ST Woman to Coach in Men's Pro League

Nov 5, 2009

Nancy Lieberman became the first female head coach of the Texas Legends, one of the NBA's professional D-League teams.

UCONN Wins 90 Straight Games

Dec 28, 2010

University of Connecticut's 90 game winning streak led by Maya Moore strengthened Gino Auriemma's status as one of the greatest coaches of all time, in male or female sports.

Becky Hammon is Named Spurs Assistant Coach

Aug 5, 2014

The NBA team, the San Antonio Spurs, announced that Becky Hammon was hired as an assistant coach. Hammon was named one of the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All-Time in 2011.