Women’s College Basketball

We’ve come a long way since the inception of women’s college basketball.

The first game, played in 1893 at Smith College, was played between sophomores and freshmen. However, the first “official” women’s college basketball match was recognized in April 1896 with a game between Berkley and Stanford. This match was played in a locked gymnasium, as men were not allowed to watch as the women ran and jumped on the basketball court.

In 1901 a separate set of rules was written for women’s college basketball. The early years involved some crazy rules. The basket was sewn shut, so the umpire had to go up and retrieve the ball whenever a goal was scored. In addition, it was required that some games be played on grass courts. Thankfully, the game progressed and over the years the rules were modified.

The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women did not conduct the first National Basketball Tournament for Women until 1975. In this same year, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association selected their first All-America Team. The American Basketball League (ABL) was founded in 1996, and the Women’s National...