women in sports

First woman's softball team

Sep 4, 1895

The first woman's softball team was formed in 1895 at Chicago's West Division High School. They didn't have a coach until 1899. In 1904 the Spalding Indoor Baseball guide devoted a large section of the guide to women's softball, and it started to grow from there.

Lucy Diggs Slowe wins national tournament

Dec 5, 1917

Lucy Diggs Slowe wins the singles title at the first American Tennis Association national tournament. This made her the first African-American female national champion in any sport.

Lillian Leitzel breaks the world record

Dec 5, 1918

Lillian Leitzel, a 36 year old 90 pound acrobat aeriast with Ringling Brothers & Barnumn & Baily, beat the 1878 world record for one-arm chin ups. The record was 12 and she did 27 with her right arm and then 19 more with her left.

Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle

Aug 6, 1926

Gertrude Ederle swims the english channel New York City native, Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle at 19 becomes the first woman to swim the english channel in 14 hours and 31 minutes. She beat the best time to date by 2 hours. She previously won a gold and two bronze medals in the 1924 olympics.

Ameila Earhart

May 20, 1932

Ameila Earhart flies the first solo flight by a woman across the United States.

Amazing Athlete

Jul 16, 1932

Babe Didrikson sets four world records in the AAU championships: the javeline, 80 meter hurdles, high jump, and baseball throw. She went on to win 2 gold medals at the L.A. Olympics. Later she entered and dominated the amatuer and pro golf tour.

Marjorie Gestring the youngest ever olympic gold medalist

Dec 5, 1936

American Swimmer, Marjorie Gestring becomes the youngest-ever olympic gold medalist at 13 years and 9 months. Her gold medal was in springboard diving.

Barbara Washburn becomes the first woman to climb Mount McKinley

Dec 5, 1947

Barbara Washburn becomes the first woman to climb 20,320 foot Mount Mckinley

Wilma Rudolph's Olympic performance

Dec 4, 1960

Wilma Rudolph wins 3 gold medals. In the Rome olympics she set a world record in the 100 meters. She set an olympic record and recieved gold in the 200 meters. Her 4 by 400 team sets a world record in the semi-finals and come from behing in the finals to get the gold.

Unofficial Women's winner in Boston Marathon

Apr 20, 1966

Roberta Gibb was denied access into the Boston Marathon. She decided to hide in the bushes and jump out after the race started. She finished as the unofficial women's winner in 3:21:40. She was also the unofficial winner in 1967 and 1968.

Kathrine Switzer

Apr 19, 1967

Kathrine Switzer runs in disguise in the Boston Marathon. She entered the race as K.V. Switzer so no one would know she was a woman. A race official tried to rip her number off at mile 4 but her boyfriend knocked him over. She finished in 4 hours and 20 minutes.

First Women's Cahmpionship Marathon

Apr 20, 1970

The RRCA holds the first women's championship marathon. Sara Mae Berman won in 3:07:10. She was an amazing runner. She also won the Boston Marathon, unofficially, in 1969, 1970, and 1971

Maria Pepe

Jun 4, 1972

Maria Pepe plays little league baseball. She pitched 3 games for the young democrats, but the team was not allowed to continue unless they did not play her. The National Organization of Women sued Little League baseball on her behalf. The superior court rules women must be allowed to play.

Title IX

Jul 23, 1972

Congress passed Title IX in 1972. Title IX states that no person in the United States, based on sex, should be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any education program or activities recieving any federal financial assistance. This opened up an opportunity for women to get scholarships for college and to play professional sports.

Battle of the Sexes

Sep 20, 1973

Billie Jean King wins the Battle of the Sexes in tennis. She was the only one to defeat Bobby Riggs, former wimbledon champ. She recieves 100k purse by sweeping him.

Top Fuel Driver of the Year

Jun 13, 1976

Shirley Muldowney becomes the first woman to win a national NHRA event at spring nationals. She was voted Top Fuel Driver of the year in 1976.

U.S. women win the World Cup

Jul 10, 1999

Brandy Chastain Remembers WWC The U.S. women's soccer team win the world cup. They defeated China in a 5-4 shootout after 120 scoreless minutes. The game was played at the rose bowl in southern California. 90,185 fans attended. The largest crowd to ever attend a women's sporting event.