Stay current on the latest in Women’s Sports News – including athlete accomplishments, events, Title IX news and news about the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Monica Abbott Tosses her First Seven-Inning No-Hit Performance
Published: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
The USA Softball Women’s National team had another victory, 20-0, against the Mid-American All Stars on Monday, June 30. Monica Abbott pitched a no-hit performance for seven innings. Abbott caged five of the first eight All Star batters with strikeouts. The MAC All Stars had players from conference schools including Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Miami University, Kent State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Ohio University, Toledo and Akron. The U.S. has won 49 of the first 50 games. Depending on the International Olympic Committee votes, the 2008 games in Beijing could be the final Olympics for Softball. Softball and baseball have been voted off the program for London 2012.
Not One of the Top Four at Wimbledon Make it to Quarterfinals
Published: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova lost in the fourth round, eliminating the last two of the top four women in the quarterfinals on Monday June 30. Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova lost their matches last week. This is the first time that all top four are eliminated. The highest ranked player left is Elena Dementieva who had her last win against Shahar Peer, 6-2, 6-1. Venus and Serena Williams both had victories as well and advanced to the quarters of the women’s doubles. Together, Venus and Serena have taken six of the last eight women’s singles titles at Wimbledon.
Sheila Taormina Accepted by Modern Pentathlon Federation
Published: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Sheila Taormina will be participating in the modern pentathlon with swimming, running, fencing, shooting, and equestrian show jumping in the 2008 Olympics. She had never participated in the latter three until she tried out for the modern pentathlon team. Taormina’s first Olympic medal was the gold in 1996 in the U.S. 4x200 relay team. She later became the first person in Olympic history to participate in three sports in both 2000 and 2004. At 39, Taormina wants to show the world that learning a new sport doesn’t take ten years, and that no one is too old to learn new sports. Taormina is one of the oldest members of the Olympic team. “It’s been up and down and by far the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Taormina said.
Lee, Edwards and Williams in Top Three of the 100M
Published: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Muna Lee, Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams placed in the top three for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track and Field June 28 in the 100M, qualifying them for the Beijing Olympics. Lee, who ran the 200M at the 2004 Olympics, held the fastest time with 10.85 seconds. Edwards and Williams came in at 10.90. The trials were held in Eugene, Oregon.
Inbee Park Wins U.S. Women’s Open in Golf Becoming Youngest Champion Ever
Published: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Inbee Park, 19, took the title on Sunday, June 29 for the U.S. Women’s Open in golf. She is one of 28 teenagers to compete at Interlachen. Park credits Se Ri Pak for motivation and remembers watching Pak as a little girl. “It was very impressive for a little girl and just looking at her. I just thought that I could do it, too, so I picked up a golf club maybe a couple days after that.” That was in 1998 when Pak became the first Korean Winner. Ten years later Park continues the legacy for young women everywhere. Jessica Korda, 15, the daughter of Australian Open Champ Petr Korda, had the best final-round score.
WNBA 2007 Title Winner’s Congratulated at White House
Published: Tuesday, July 01, 2008
The Phoenix Mercury were congratulated on Monday, June 23 by President Bush for winning the WNBA title in 2007. They beat the Detroit Shock, 108-92, in the Shock’s hometown on September 4th. Phoenix became the first team in the WNBA’s history to win the title on the road. At the White House, a team jersey was given to President Bush along with a replica of the championship banner. The President said they brought “new glory” to the championship and to women’s sports.
Katie Hoff, Natalie Coughlin and Hayley McGregory Break World Records
Published: Monday, June 30, 2008
The 2008 Olympic Swim Trials began Sunday with Katie Hoff taking back her world record from Stephanie Rice, who broke it three months ago in the 400-meter Individual Medley. Hoff led for the first 100 meters, but fell behind Bluefish Swim Club’s Elizabeth Beisel during the backstroke leg. Hoff then regained the lead at the 250-meter mark and never looked back. The world record in the women’s 100m backstroke fell twice in prelims Monday. Hayley McGregory first broke the world record with 59.15. In the next heat, Natalie Coughlin broke the record again with 59.03. The Olympic Team Trials for Swimming are being held in Omaha, Neb. and continue through July 6, 2008.
Gimelstob Apologizes for Crude Remarks
Published: Sunday, June 29, 2008
The Star-Ledger reports that retired tennis pro Justin Gimelstob, is set to make a donation to the Women's Sports Foundation as a part of his apology. This follows derogatory comments he made about Anna Kournikova and other female tennis players. Gimelstob met with Billie Jean King, founder of the Women's Sports Foundation, following the unfortunate incident.
Justin Gimelstob Suspended by World Team Tennis For Inappropriate Remarks
Published: Thursday, June 26, 2008
The World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League has suspended Justin Gimelstob of the Washington Kastles for one match without pay for a violation of the League’s Player Code of Conduct. Gimelstob made misogynistic comments about Anna Kournikova, whom he was scheduled to play mixed doubles against in July, during a media appearance on a Washington D.C. area radio show. Billie Jean King, Founder of both the Women's Sports Foundation and WTT said, “Justin Gimelstob’s comments on a recent radio show were clearly inappropriate. I fully support the action taken by WTT, as it sends a clear message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated, especially in a league that was founded on the principles of providing equal opportunities for all."
Wendy Hilliard inducted into gymnastics Hall of Fame
Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Former Women’s Sports Foundation President Wendy Hilliard was inducted into the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame last weekend in Philadelphia. The first African-American to make the U.S. rhythmic gymnastics senior national team, Hilliard joined six other gymnasts as 2008 inductees into the hall of fame. After making the senior national team in 1978, Hilliard remained on the roster a record-setting nine times, twice serving as national team captain. After retirement from her sport, she was a four-time U.S. national team coach and was the personal coach of 1996 Olympian Aliane Baquerot. Hilliard now has her own nonprofit organization, the Wendy Hilliard Foundation, which has provided free gymnastics for more than 5,000 inner-city youth in New York City since 1996.
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton Celebrate Title IX
Published: Monday, June 23, 2008
On the 36th birthday of enactment of Title IX, the law that requires gender equity in educational institutions, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both shared their support for equality in sports and beyond.
From Barack Obama
"...thanks to Title IX, we have made much progress," Obama's campaign said in a statement. "Women now make up more than half of the students in our nation's colleges and universities. American dominance in women's sports on the world stage is a testament to the door that Title IX opened for young female athletes - and we know the women on the U.S. Olympic Team will make America proud this summer."
"But even as these facts speak to the progress that we've made, we know that too many of America's daughters grow up facing barriers to their dreams. Women's sports still often get short shrift in high school and college. High school vocational courses still tend to guide women toward lower-paying occupations. And when Americans need new skills to compete in this 21st century economy, women still make up fewer than one in five of our engineering graduates, and the number entering computer and information sciences programs is on the decline."
"When I'm President, I'll fight to make sure our female students have equal opportunities from pre-kindergarten all the way through graduate school. I will strengthen Title IX enforcement at the Department of Education. I will support the High School Sports Information Collection Act, which directs schools to make information on equality in athletic programs publicly available, as it is at the collegiate level. And I will direct my Department of Education to help schools take proactive steps to fulfill their Title IX obligations in both the sports and academic arenas."
"I am the father of two young girls who are growing up playing sports and who are beneficiaries of the doors Title IX opened. I'm running for President to make sure that the American Dream is within reach for every young girl in this country. That, after all, is what Title IX is all about - fulfilling our founding promise of equal opportunity for all. And that is the America we can build together - an America where our daughters have the same opportunities as our sons."
From Hillary Clinton
“Title IX has unlocked doors and created opportunities for millions of women in America. In the 36 years since Title IX’s enactment, there has been a massive increase in the number of women participating in high school and college sports.
According to the Women Sports Foundation, female high school athletic participation has increased by 904 percent and female collegiate athletic participation has increased by 456 percent. But the influence of Title IX extends far beyond the field or the court. We know that girls who participate in sports are less likely to smoke, drink, drop out of school, be overweight and become teenage mothers, and they are more likely to grow up with confidence and graduate from college.
Despite this incredible progress, women and girls still need our support to level the playing field. Today, female high school athletes receive 1.3 million fewer opportunities to participate in sports than their male counterparts. That is why I will continue to fight to protect Title IX funding. As we mark this date celebrating all that Title IX has accomplished, we must renew our commitment to making sure that future generations can reap the benefits that millions of girls and women all over America have already enjoyed: opportunities to learn new skills, practice teamwork, and gain confidence.”
Senator Clinton has worked aggressively to protect and fully fund Title IX. In 2006, she joined with athletes, students and community leaders at a symposium at Purchase College SUNY to promote Title IX. Senator Clinton also requested that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, of which she is a member, hold a hearing on the Department of Education’s “Additional Clarification of Intercollegiate Athletics Policy.” In the 108th Congress, Senator Clinton co-sponsored both S. Res. 40, which reaffirmed her commitment to Title IX and S. Res. 153, a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that changes to athletics policies issued under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 would contradict the spirit of athletic equality and the intent to prohibit sex discrimination in education programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance. Senator Clinton spoke out in 2003 against the Department of Education’s proposed regulations that attempted to reduce athletic opportunities for women and girls, and undermine their right to equal treatment.
Eun-Hee Ji wins first LPGA at the Wegman’s Championship
Published: Monday, June 23, 2008
Eun-Hee Ji, 22, rallied with six holes left to play to surpass Norwegian Suzann Pettersen and claim her first LPGA victory this weekend in Rochester, N.Y. Ji, who is in her second year of the tour, had a previous best of a second-place finish behind Pettersen last October in South Korea at the Kolon Championship. This year, Ji has earned a pair of tied-finishes, one for a tie for fourth place, and the other, a tie for ninth place. She began her career at age 13 and won the Korea Women's Amateur Championship in 2003.
U.S. women’s soccer wins Peace Queen Cup
Published: Monday, June 23, 2008
With a goal by Angela Hucles in the 92nd minute, the United States defeated Canada 1-0 to win the Peace Queen Cup tournament Saturday in Suwon, South Korea. The U.S. women were also helped by goalkeeper Hope Solo’s two game-preserving saves at the end of the match. The Peace Queen Cup is the United States' fourth Olympic tune-up tournament win of the year, including a win over China at the Four Nations tournament in January and another win over Denmark at the Algarve Cup in March. The official roster for the Beijing Games will be announced today.
Candace Parker dunks during WNBA game as the Sparks beat the Fever
Published: Monday, June 23, 2008
Becoming only the second women to dunk during a professional women’s basketball game, Candace Parker slammed one with her right hand off a pass from Raffaella Masciadri with 29 seconds left to play in the game on Sunday night in Los Angeles. Her Sparks beat the Indian Fever with a score of 77-63, helped by Parker’s 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Her teammate Lisa Leslie, who was the first women to dunk during a WNBA game, scored 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Georgia Gould clenches spot on U.S. mountain biking Olympic team
Published: Monday, June 23, 2008
Georgia Gould, of Fort Collins, Colo., earned her spot on the U.S. Olympic mountain biking team this weekend in Trentino, Italy. Despite a crash, Gould finished ninth in the women’s championship but was selected after having the best cumulative placing in international races this year. She had a pair of fifth-place finishes out of three World Cup events. The complete USA Cycling roster, including BMX, road, track and mountain biking, will be complete by July 1.
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