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All American Girls Professional Baseball League
During the spring of 1943, baseball-loving women played a modified version of the game. It was a hybrid of baseball and softball and here the All American Girls Professional Baseball League was formed. At it's peak in 1948, the ten teams attracted over 910,000 fans. -
Maureen Collonny wins Grand Slam
Maureen Collonny won the US Open against Doris Hart the fall of 1953. With this victory, she also became the first woman ever to win the "Grand Slam" of tennis, where she captured all four major championships in the same year. In addition to being the first woman, she is also the youngest. -
First LPGA
The first LPGA, or Ladies Professional Golf Association & tournament, was held on this day. The tournament took place in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the Orchard Ridge Country Club. The winner of the championship was Beverly Hanson. -
Wilma takes Gold
During the 1960 Olympics, between August 25 and September 11, Wilma Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics. She won the 100 and 200 meter races and assisted the U.S. team to victory in the 400 meter relay. She broke two world records in these Olympic games as well. -
First Women Olympic Team
Volleyball became the first team sport for women in the Olympics. The first match between Japan and the Soviets was won by the Japanese. Since then, the twelve editions of the tournament have only been won by five different countries. -
First Lady in Boston Marathon
Katherine Switzer became the first woman to unofficially compete in the Boston Marathon. She participated in the event under the code name, KV Switzer. The marathon was for all men and once her identity was revealved, officials tried to chase her down and tear off her number. Her boyfriend helped fight them off so she could finish the race. Women were allowerd to participate in the marathon five years later. -
Title IX Passed
President Richard Nixon signed Title IX of the 1972 Education Admendments starting the women's sports revolution. It banned sex discrimination in all schools that recieved federal fund. Since almost all US schols and colleges recieved federal aide, this impacted women's sports tremendously. -
Battle of the Sexes
Battle of the SexesBillie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs at the US Open in a match known as "Battle of the Sexes." Riggs was a 55 year old former Wimbeldon and US Open Champion who in the early '70's challenged top female players to challenges and constantly put down women's tennis. Billie Jean King accepted his invitation and defeated him stating, "I thought it would set us back fifty years if I didn't win that match. It would ruin the women's tour and affect all women's self esteem." -
Woodard Goes Pro
Lynette Woodard became the first woman to play on an all males professional basketball team. Woodard scored seven points in her debut with the Harlem Globetrotters. Later, she went on to play in the Women's Professional Basketball League. -
Hamm goes Ham
Mia Hamm scored her 108th career goal against Brazil in Orlando, Florida. Hamm broke the all time international record for men or women's soccer. Nike then named the largest building on their corporate campus after her. -
1999 FIFA World Cup
The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasedena, California. It is the most attended women's sporting event, to date, with an attendance of 90,185. The final was scoreless and the US won against China in a penalty shoot-out. -
Japan's Indy 300
Japan's Indy 300Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy Car Race. Her victory was at the 2008 Japan Indy 300. She stole the show and is still the only woman to win an Indy Race or any US Sanctioned Open Wheel Race.
