Following the retirement of women's sports legend Abby Wambach, let's take a trip back in time to remind some people that women are indeed far more powerful than we may be perceived.
1. Billie Jean King
Besides the fact that she was ranked No. 1 in tennis for five straight years with a career total of 39 Grand Slam titles, she participated in one of the most game changing matches. King defeated well-known male tennis player Bobby Rigs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes match. This defeat allowed women to receive equal prize pay, take pride in their sexuality and prove that women could indeed keep up with the pressure.
2. Brandi Chastain
The infamous Sports Illustrated cover consisting of a female in her sports bra celebrating one of the greatest moments of all time. Chastain will forever be remembered as the “99er” game winning penalty kick shooter in the World Cup. With the combination of her and Mia Hamm, not just this game…but this team was and still may be one of the best America has ever had.
3. University of Connecticut Women's Basketball
Under coach Geno Auriemma, the University of Connecticut’s Women’s basketball team created history. Auriemma is tied for the most national titles with ten and you want to know the best part? Not only has the program made it to ten national title games…. but they have won them all. The Huskies have won three consecutive NCAA Division I titles two times: 2003, 2004, 2005/2013, 2014, 2015. In their 2013-2014 season UCONN finished 40-0 with a national ring. The program is unbelievably motivating.
4. 1998 USA Women's Ice Hockey Team
In 1998 Women’s Ice Hockey was finally accepted in the Winter Olympic Games. In 1998 the U.S took full advantage of the opportunity and won the first women’s Olympic ice hockey gold medal by defeating Canada 3-1.
5. Venus vs. Serena
What are the chances of having two children, both daughters who turn out to be the top tennis players in the country? It has to be one of the most exciting yet most uncomfortable situations two parents could ever be in. Who do you root for and why? No matter what, when these two end up paired to play together…one of their children is going to be a loser. In the eyes of Serena and Venus it is evident through the match that they are also indeed a little uncomfortable. Serena is known for her dramatics and theatrics, but after the most recent competition between the two…it was clear Serena was a lot more conservative than usual. The respect and love that they have for each other is breathtaking. After years of working together under the same trainer when they were young, they have no choice but to make this all about business. I can sit here and say Venus won this, Serena won that…but I think their situation and success is about a lot more than just “numbers.” The Williams parents sure gave off some phenomenal genes.
6. Danica Patrick
A woman race car driver, who would have ever thought that? Nonetheless a very attractive one, Danica Patrick is one of the most successful women in history in American open wheel racing. She is the first female in an IndyCar Series race to ever win the Indy Japan 300. Not only does Patrick have talents behind the wheel, but she is also a worldwide model and advertising spokeswoman.
7. Diana Nyad
At 64 years old, Diana Nyad was the first person in both the male and female category to ever swim from Cuba to Florida without any type of protective cage. From Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida it took Nyad nearly 53 hours to complete this unbelievable voyage. It was her fifth time in thirty-five years and she did it.
8. Mo'Ne Davis
Davis is the first African American female to ever play in the Little League World Series. At the age of 13 she was also the first female to earn a win and pitch a shutout. Out of all the years of the Little League World Series, she was the first player to ever be on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
9. Becky Hammon
The San Antonio Spurs recently hired Hammon who played many years in the WNBA. Over the summer she became the second female assistant coach in the NBA, but the first full-time assistant. In the summer of 2015 she was named head coach of the summer team and steered the Spurs to a Las Vegas League title.
10. Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach over the last few years has been one of the biggest female athletes worldwide. Whether it was her 2011 World Cup header against Brazil or her 184-goal record…she is a legend. Wambach was awarded the 2011 ESPY Best Play of the Year along with the bronze boot and silver ball, two time Olympic gold medals, and six time U.S Soccer Athlete of The Year Award. In 2012 she was awarded with Fifa Player of the Year being the first U.S female player to win it in about 10 years. On July 20 in her hometown of Rochester, NY…it is known as “Abby Wambach Day’. After all of her success she was given a key to the city. In the Spring of 2015 Wambach was found on Time Magazine’s 100 list of the most influential people in the world.
Although some may differ when it comes to topics regarding women in sports, I would say that we women are more than just fine when it comes to the pressure and perseverance of competition.
