TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball program is set to honor and celebrate 50 seasons of Bearcats women's basketball.
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 marked the 36th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which began in 1987 as a special day to recognize women's sports.
NGWSD has since evolved into an event to acknowledge the accomplishments of girls and women in sports, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports. You can read more about how UC celebrated here.
The significance this year of celebrating girls and women in sports is that 2022 is also the 50th anniversary of the first season of Cincinnati Women's Basketball and the signing of Title IX.
The first official season of Cincinnati Women's Basketball started in 1971. Then known as the Lady Bearcats, they would finish their first full season with a 3-6 record.
One year later, on June 23, 1972, the landscape of women's sports changed forever with the passing of Title IX, prohibiting the discrimination based on gender in athletics and education.
Throughout February, we will celebrate the achievements of former players and coaches who helped shape the program. We will also honor and remember those who made significant strides to advance women's sports, and specifically Bearcats Women's Basketball, to allow them to be what they are today.
There are two significant moments that helped set the standard for Bearcats' women's basketball today.
First, did you know men's basketball standout Tom Thacker took over coaching the Lady Bearcats in 1974? He was not only the first African-American head coach in the University's history, but also that same year he moved the women's team to the Armory Fieldhouse to play on the same court as the men's team.
Another significant moment was the removal of the name Lady Bearcats. In 1990, then-head coach Laurie Pirtle successfully campaigned for the name Lady to be removed from the team's name and they would simply be known as the Bearcats, just like the other varsity teams.
Today, fans are able watch the women's team play in the recently renovated Fifth Third Arena - or on your televisions as games air on ESPN+ - while they wear Cincinnati or Bearcats across their chests. What you see and know about Bearcats' women's basketball is in small part because of these two coaches setting that standard. Setting equality, equity and inclusion in wearing the same name on their jerseys and playing on the same court as the men.
Along with feature stories and graphics throughout the month, on Saturday, February 19, the athletics department will host a celebration event tied in with the Bearcats' women's basketball game against the ECU Pirates at 2 p.m. Former players, coaches, and staff will join us in Cincinnati to remember and honor the successes of the past and present and look ahead to the future.
For tickets to the game, you can call the ticket office at 1-877-CATS-TIX or visit the website here.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's basketball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati WBB (@GoBearcatsWBB) and Coach Michelle Clark-Heard (@Coachheard) on Twitter. You can also follow the team on Facebook and Instagram.
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 marked the 36th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which began in 1987 as a special day to recognize women's sports.
NGWSD has since evolved into an event to acknowledge the accomplishments of girls and women in sports, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports. You can read more about how UC celebrated here.
The significance this year of celebrating girls and women in sports is that 2022 is also the 50th anniversary of the first season of Cincinnati Women's Basketball and the signing of Title IX.
The first official season of Cincinnati Women's Basketball started in 1971. Then known as the Lady Bearcats, they would finish their first full season with a 3-6 record.
One year later, on June 23, 1972, the landscape of women's sports changed forever with the passing of Title IX, prohibiting the discrimination based on gender in athletics and education.
Throughout February, we will celebrate the achievements of former players and coaches who helped shape the program. We will also honor and remember those who made significant strides to advance women's sports, and specifically Bearcats Women's Basketball, to allow them to be what they are today.
There are two significant moments that helped set the standard for Bearcats' women's basketball today.
First, did you know men's basketball standout Tom Thacker took over coaching the Lady Bearcats in 1974? He was not only the first African-American head coach in the University's history, but also that same year he moved the women's team to the Armory Fieldhouse to play on the same court as the men's team.
Another significant moment was the removal of the name Lady Bearcats. In 1990, then-head coach Laurie Pirtle successfully campaigned for the name Lady to be removed from the team's name and they would simply be known as the Bearcats, just like the other varsity teams.
Today, fans are able watch the women's team play in the recently renovated Fifth Third Arena - or on your televisions as games air on ESPN+ - while they wear Cincinnati or Bearcats across their chests. What you see and know about Bearcats' women's basketball is in small part because of these two coaches setting that standard. Setting equality, equity and inclusion in wearing the same name on their jerseys and playing on the same court as the men.
Along with feature stories and graphics throughout the month, on Saturday, February 19, the athletics department will host a celebration event tied in with the Bearcats' women's basketball game against the ECU Pirates at 2 p.m. Former players, coaches, and staff will join us in Cincinnati to remember and honor the successes of the past and present and look ahead to the future.
For tickets to the game, you can call the ticket office at 1-877-CATS-TIX or visit the website here.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's basketball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati WBB (@GoBearcatsWBB) and Coach Michelle Clark-Heard (@Coachheard) on Twitter. You can also follow the team on Facebook and Instagram.