By Laken Litman
FOX Sports Writer
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of FOX Sports’ series commemorating the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which was enacted into law on June 23, 1972. The series tells the stories of significant women in sports today, both celebrating the progress that has been made and recognizing the barriers that still remain.
When I spoke with Tara VanDerveer for a recent story, the legendary Stanford women’s basketball coach said something that we all know but that can’t be repeated enough.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of Title IX, I had asked her what she thinks we all need to do to ensure that women’s sports keep moving in the right direction.
“I think it’s the job of parents with younger children, the job of coaches, athletic directors and conference commissioners. It’s one of the biggest challenges in the media,” VanDerveer said. “There’s not the same coverage of girls’ and women’s sports that there is for boys’ and men’s sports. Every day, there needs to be articles about women playing sports, whether it’s professional soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball.
“Young girls need these role models and heroines to aspire to.”
Tara VanDerveer has led the Stanford Cardinal to three national championships, 13 Final Fours and 14 Pac-12 Tournament titles. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Her comments couldn’t be truer. And “Strong Like A Woman,” a book I wrote in conjunction with my former employer, Sports Illustrated, and Rizzoli, is for those young girls who need role models and heroines to aspire to.
This book chronicles and celebrates 100 of the greatest female athletes since 1954 (when SI began). No, they are not ranked, but rather, they are listed in alphabetical order. It would be impossible and unfair to categorize these athletes in a list from No. 1 to 100. They played different sports in different eras and accomplished different things.
The pages are filled with stories about extraordinary, trailblazing, influential athletes, including Simone Biles, Lisa Leslie, Janet Guthrie and Mia Hamm. Althea Gibson, Megan Rapinoe, Ann Meyers Drysdale and Susan Butcher. Wilma Rudolph, Serena Williams, Peggy Flemming and Trischa Zorn.
Below, we’ve included three excerpts highlighting the lives and careers of Billie Jean King, Alex Morgan and Diana Taurasi.
As King wrote in the foreword to “Strong Like A Woman,” a theme that has woven itself into the fabric of women’s sports is equal pay….
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at FOX Sports Digital…