Can you believe that back in the '70s, only 1 in 27 girls played sports? Today, that number has changed to 1 in 2.5, thanks to a super cool organization called the Women's Sports Foundation. Check out who they are and what they do!
Women's Sports Foundation - You Go, Girl!
Billie Jean King is considered to be one of the greatest tennis players and female athletes in history. She was a Wimbledon star, winning women's singles six times, doubles 10 times and mixed doubles four times. She even beat Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" showdown in 1973, proving to the world that women were an athletic force to be reckoned with. To continue her fight for gender equality in sports, she founded the Women's Sports Foundation. It's the only US organization dedicated to helping girls of all ages get involved in sports and physical activity!
Women's Sports Foundation - Women in Sports
Research shows that active girls are more confident and deal better with the social pressures of girlhood. With that in mind, the Women's Sports Foundation helps give girls equal opportunities on the playing field. They even financially helped athletes like Picabo Street, Kerri Strug and Kristi Yamaguchi to compete at the early stages of their careers before they became champs. The Women's Sports Foundation also gets champion female athletes to speak out on the importance of fitness and being healthy, positive role models - way to go!
Women's Sports Foundation - Fast Facts
- On April 4, 1896, the first women's intercollegiate b-ball game was held in Berkeley, CA.
- In 1964, volleyball was introduced as the first team sport for women in the Olympic Games.
- In 1969, Penny Ann Early became the first woman to play professional basketball.
- In 1976, the first Olympic competition in women's basketball was held in Montreal.
- In 1992, Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in any NHL game. She tended goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhibition game vs. St. Louis and made seven saves in a period.
- In September 1999, Serena Williams became the first African-American woman since Althea Gibson in 1958 to win the U.S. Open Singles Championship.
Help the Women's Sports Foundation get a girl going! Their goal is to get 1 million girls aged 8-18 physically active over the next three years. Join their GoGirlGo! campaign and improve your health and wellness!
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