As March unfolds, the University of Wisconsin honors Women’s History Month — a time to recognize the spirit of women who have shaped history, broken barriers and paved the way for future generations. At UW, female athletes stand at the forefront.
Fifty years ago, UW took a historic step by approving a 12-sport women’s program, according to Spectrum News. Before 1974, female students could only participate on club sports teams and were not allowed to play at the intercollegiate level. This decision marked the university as a pioneer, far ahead of the NCAA and Big Ten Conference which finally recognized women’s athletics in 1981, Spectrum News reported.