Women Who Changed The World Of Sports Forever 

Source: Jed Jacobsohn / Getty

Today is National Girls & Women In Sports Day, in which we celebrate the accomplishments of amazing female athletes and recognize the influence of sports participation for women and girls. Today is also a day that we honor the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports. In other words, we’ve come a long way, but not far enough.

There was a point in time where women in sports was highly frowned upon. Even now, we use the term “female” athlete instead of simply calling them athletes. Fortunately, there are organizations like the Women’s Sports Foundation that act as a hub for young girls in sports to learn, grow and get involved.

Women have always been deemed as supernatural being that can do whatever they put their minds to. It’s no wonder a male dominated society doesn’t want us playing sports.

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Seeing women dominate on the courts and fields just further proves that we’re a force to be reckoned with — on and off the court. In honor of National Girls & Women in Sports Day, hit the flip for 10 phenomenal women who’ve broke records, made history and changed the world of sports forever.

 Wilma Rudolph

https://twitter.com/HillDanie/status/1225246231594766336

Notable: “The African American athlete Wilma Rudolph made history in the 1960 Summer Olympic games in Rome, Italy, when she became the first American woman to win three gold medals in the track and field competition.” – Biography

Billie Jean King

Notable: “In 1973, she formed the Women’s Tennis Association and famously defeated Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.” The first prominent female athlete to admit her homosexuality, King continued her work as an influential social activist after retiring from tennis.” – Biography

Lisa Leslie

Source: Joe Scarnici / Getty

Notable: Leslie became the first WNBA player to win the MVP award for the regular season, All-Star Game and playoffs in the same year. Leslie was also the first woman to dunk during a professional game. She was also the face of the WNBA from 1997-2009.

Althea Gibson

https://twitter.com/historylvrsclub/status/1225497869718822913

Notable: “Gibson was an American tennis player who dominated women’s competition in the late 1950s. She was the first black player to win the French (1956), Wimbledon (1957–58), and U.S. Open (1957–58) singles championships.” – Biography

Shannon Eastin

Notable: “During the 2012 NFL lockout, Eastin made history as the first female to officiate a regular-season NFL game”- Newsday

Ibtihaj Muhammad

Notable: “Muhammad became the first U.S. Olympian to compete in a hijab at the 2016 Rio Games. She helped the U.S. win bronze in sabre fencing with a 45-30 rout of Italy in Rio.”- News Day

Toni Stone

Notable: Stone was an American baseball player who, as a member of the Negro American League’s Indianapolis Clowns, was the first woman to ever play professional baseball as a regular on a big-league team