Fever & WNBA Would Not Be Here Without Title IX
February 1, 2012

FACT: The Indiana Fever and WNBA would not be in existence today if it were not for the passing of Title IX legislation 40 years ago.

Given that fact, Fever players and staff have taken time to ponder what it means to each of their lives and their careers – and for the future of women’s athletics overall.

From Lin Dunn, a pioneer in women’s sports, all the way to 2011 rookie guard Jeanette Pohlen, each has different experiences that reflect the evolution of women’s sports through the past 40 years. On this National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), we reflect on the WNBA’s theme – “Title IX at 40: In it for the Long Run.”

To understand the annual NGWSD, it celebrates female participation in all levels of sport. It was begun in 1987 to recognize the equality efforts of Flo Hyman, a U.S. Olympic volleyball player who passed away two years after winning a silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Hyman was the first female athlete to earn a scholarship from the University of Houston, made possible in part by Title IX legislation, which was enacted by Congress on June 23, 1972.

Although the legislation affects all aspects of schools that receive federal aid -- “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,” it is most commonly associated with high school and collegiate athletics.  According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, female participation in high school athletics skyrocketed from 294,000 in 1971 to 3.2 million in 2010 -- an increase of 988 percent. Male participation increased 25 percent (from 3.6 million in 1971 to 4.5 million in 2010) during the same period of time.

Almost exactly 25 years later, the first WNBA season began on June 21, 1997. Each of the Fever’s current players and coaches has been affected by Title IX, but head coach Lin Dunn knows firsthand that the legislation was crucially needed.

Dunn’s experience as a high school basketball player in the 1960s was of six-on-six basketball where the court was divided into halves. At the time, girls weren’t allowed to play full-court in Tennessee in order to limit their physical activity. Three athletes played defense and three played offense, with neither allowed to travel past halfcourt. After her high school playing days were over, Dunn played on club teams at Tennessee-Martin and worked earnestly to establish a varsity team. Finally, the year after her graduation in 1969, UT-Martin had its first women’s basketball team.

Dunn coached the Austin Peay women’s basketball, women’s tennis and volleyball teams beginning in 1970, two years before Title IX was enacted.

“There were tremendous coaching challenges before Title IX was passed. In fact, for many years after it passed, the law was not enforced. In my case, I coached for at least 20 years in college in discriminatory situations:  no locker rooms for the women, little or no financial resources for equipment and travel, no scholarships for women or recruiting budget, very low salaries for coaches, no assistants, poor access to facilities – early morning or late night only,” Dunn said.

While Lin Dunn was not able to participate in college basketball, Fever GM and COO, Kelly Krauskopf was able to play college basketball for Texas A&M and receive college credit but still experienced struggles while playing over a decade after Title IX’s passing. 

“When I played at Texas A&M, it was still a very early time of Title IX compliance for schools. Even though I was fortunate to receive a scholarship, there were many differences in some of the operating procedures for the women. I recall using duct tape to hold the handles on our travel bags because they were ripping off the seams. After being told there was no money in the budget for new ones, my teammates and I pooled our money together and bought duffel bags that were on sale at JCPenney – the colors did not match our uniforms but it was all we could afford.”

Krauskopf remembered from her college careeer, “I wore the exact same game uniform – and I do mean that literally – for three years. I don’t think there was any money in the budget to buy us a new one by the time I was a senior.  We traveled 15 players crammed in a van to road games. I don’t remember how the coaches got there – but I can tell you there was no room in the van! All in all, I was just happy to be given the opportunity to play the game I loved and represent my university.“

Krauskopf took a different approach to women in sports, paving the way in the sports business. 

“I really believe women have a wide open door today to pursue a career in sports marketing and management. Internships are very common and are a terrific avenue today for young women and men to get their foot in the door as a first ‘impression’ opportunity. I think as a leader in my field, I must continue to look for ways to ‘pay it forward’ and create opportunities for bright young women.”

Assistant coach Stephanie White, a former Fever player who won an NCAA national championship at Purdue in 1999, immersed herself in the history of Title IX several years ago. White narrated a documentary on the legislation that was donated to all Indiana High School Athletic Association members. In “For the Sport of It! Female Athletics & Title IX,”  White narrates the story of Title IX through interviews with national figures and a series of vignettes featuring Indiana athletes. When asked what stood out most on her experience with the documentary, White responded “What stands out to me about the opportunity is that I was able to do that at such a young age. I value the experiences I have had as a result of Title IX and I hope to continue the legacy set by the women who paved the way prior to Title IX.”

Years have passed, but current Fever players have their own opinions and experiences.

For veterans like Tangele Smith and Tamika Catchings, the WNBA wasn’t their dream career when they played high school basketball. That’s because the league didn’t exist until 1997, Catching’s freshman season at the University of Tennessee. Younger athletes, like Jeannette Pohlen, had a slew of elite WNBA players as role models growing up, so they had the WNBA in their sights.

Smith didn’t have the WNBA to anticipate, but fortunately, colleges saw her potential. 

“If it wasn't for Title IX, I wouldn't be where I am today and I sure enough wouldn't be the pro player that has played in the most games in WNBA history,” said Smith. “Title IX allowed me to be able to gain a scholarship at the college level. If not for that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to play professional basketball or even get a degree, for that matter.”

Catchings, the 2011 WNBA MVP and two-time Olympic gold medalist, offers her take on Title IX: “All of the women who paved the way for us to be where we are on all platforms – that is why I am able to stand here and play in the WNBA and represent our country in the Olympics. It's because of the women who came before me, willing to sacrifice and fight for OUR rights.”

Catchings also served as an advocate for Title IX and its impact in 2006. She wrote a 2006 column for USA Today arguing against a Department of Education change to Title IX policy that allowed schools to gauge female interest in sports through email surveys. The Department of Education reversed its decision in 2010.

Pohlen is living the dream paved before her. She looked up to Lisa Leslie growing up, and Leslie’s success fueled Pohlen’s motivation to be in the WNBA.

“The WNBA was so important because it gave me something to work towards being a player. To be able to make it to the highest level of women's basketball was a dream. The opportunities basketball has given me, and the doors it has opened, are amazing,” Pohlen said.

Although Pohlen’s experiences with Title IX differ from her teammates and coaches, she is grateful nonetheless. “Title IX has given so much opportunity to young girls growing up, knowing that there could be a future for them in basketball. There are so many amazing female athletes. I can't even imagine what it was like for the earlier generations of female athletes. I'm so grateful for all of those who paved the way to get us to where we are today.” 

Different generations have experience the explosion of women’s sports in different ways, but the immense growth is not refutable. For that, we celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day.