Women's Sports at UA

"SCHOOLHOUSE" WOMEN

Women at UA Today

Women in Sport at UA

Ali Possess reflected on the effort and perseverance required to desegregate UA and wondered if bring women's athletics to our campus was a similar struggle. Using archival materials in the UA Library System, Ali identified key moments in the history of women's sport at UA:

Prior to varsity athletics, women at UA often took supporting, cheerleader-esque roles when it came to sports, joining groups such as The Tide Teammates, Bat Girls, Plate Mates and Mat Mates.Women were also part of the band and Crimsonettes during these years. For example, Tide Teammates supported the men's varsity swim team, acting as hostesses for visiting teams at meets, aiding in recruitment of prospective athletes, and assisting with timing at the meets.

Alabama women's basketball player in the 1970s

1972
Title IX to the 1972 Education Acts passes, requiring public schools to offer equitable extra-curricular resources, including sport.

1974
First varsity women's basketball game is played at UA in Foster Auditorium, site of Wallace's "stand" in 1963
1975.

1975

Enforcement guidelines for Title IX are released; full compliance is required within one year.
University of Alabama appropriates $75,000 for women's sports.
Anne Marie Hicks arrives at the Capstone from Michigan State to lead UA Women's Athletics.
Women's gymnastics is founded at UA under Coach Sheila Hill.

1976
At the one year review for Title IX compliance, only 6 of Alabama's 13 public four-year institutions passed.

1979
Sarah Patterson is named head coach of the gymnastic team; first winning season, eventually 6 national championships.

1986
Women's soccer is founded on campus, suspended in1988, and resumed in 1994 under coach Don Staley.

1997
Softball is established as a varsity sport.

2005
Women's rowing is founded, the university's newest women's varsity sport.

2012
Women's gymnastics, golf and softball win national championship in the same year.