Description:
The game has always been theirs. The world just took a while to watch.
Before Caitlin Clark filled arenas, before the WNBA, before Title IX, girls were already picking up basketballs and demanding their chance to play.
Legends of Women's Basketball takes readers on a fast-paced, fully illustrated journey through more than a century of American women's basketball, from Senda Berenson introducing the new game at Smith College in 1892 to the sold-out arenas of today. It's a history of breakthroughs and setbacks alike: the Fort Shaw Girls, a Native American team that made history at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair; the way Title IX transformed opportunities for girls in sports; the legendary 1996 Olympic team; the launch of the WNBA; and the ongoing fight for visibility, pay, and respect.
Then readers meet the players and coaches who changed the game forever. Pat Summitt built one of the sport's greatest coaching legacies. Nancy Lieberman refused to accept there wasn't a place for her. Sheryl Swoopes became the first woman with a signature basketball shoe. Lisa Leslie made WNBA history with a dunk. Maya Moore stepped away at the height of her career to pursue justice. Brittney Griner turned the differences she was bullied for into strengths. Angel Reese brought her unapologetic self to the pros. And Caitlin Clark brought a whole new audience to the women's game.
Written in an engaging, conversational style by Nicole Melleby and packed with vibrant full-color illustrations by Karen De La Vega, Legends of Women's Basketball makes sports history exciting, approachable, and relevant for today's kids. Perfect for readers ages 8-12, young basketball players, WNBA fans, reluctant readers who love sports, and any kid inspired by people who refused to accept the limits placed in front of them.
The game has always been theirs. Now the world is watching--and the next generation is ready to play.
Brief description:
Nicole Melleby, a Jersey native, is the author of highly praised middle-grade books, including the Lambda Literary finalist Hurricane Season and ALA Notable Children's book How to Become a Planet. She is currently on the faculty of the Hamline University MFA for Writing for Children and Young Adults, and lives with her wife and their cats, whose needs for attention oddly align with Nicole's writing schedule.
Review Quotes:
"A lively and fascinating ode to the most exciting ticket in professional sports. An absolute delight." -- Anne Ursu, National Book Award nominee, Kirkus Prize finalist, and winner of best book of the year by Parents Magazine, NPR, Bookshop.org, and Publishers Weekly