By: Lexi Petersen

Timeline

·      1892: The game of Basketball is created. Women are not allowed to play because they are too fragile. Eventually, women create a modified half-court version of basketball.

·      1971: Women finally considered strong enough to play full court basketball.

·      1972: President Nixon signs Title IX with a goal of ending sex discrimination in federally funded sports.

·      1973: Billy Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in the ‘battle of the sexes’ tennis match. This moment became known as the ‘the event that most energized women’s tennis.’

·      1988: Haffer vs. Temple University: This lawsuit was against Temple University for not complying with Title IX. It gave new direction for collegiate athletic departments in regards to women’s sports.

·      1996: Sheryl Swoopes becomes the first woman to have her own Nike shoe, “Air Swoops.” This was a milestone for women, considering women were not allowed to play full court basketball at all prior to Title IX.

·      1999: US Women’s Soccer team takes the gold medal in front of a crowd of 90,000. This was an important landmark for the popularity of women’s sports.

·      2005: WNBA salary cap is solidified at $89,000; NBA salary cap is 15.355 Million. This shows that although women’s sports have taken strides toward equality, it’s not there yet.

·      2007: Wimbledon provides equal prize money for male and female athletes for the first time. This demonstrates hope that it is possible for pay equity in sports.

·      2010: The University of Connecticut Women’s basketball team goes on a 90 game winning-streak; beating previous record of 88 set by the UCLA Men’s basketball team. This proves that women’s basketball can be as competitive and dominant as men’s teams.