In this Book

Shattering the Glass: The Remarkable History of Women's Basketball

Book
2025
summary
American women’s basketball has reached new peaks of interest and popularity, thanks to spellbinding athletes, exhilarating games, and a vibrant, empowered vision of womanhood. Shattering the Glass stands as the definitive history of the sport. Combining extensive historical research with dozens of oral history interviews, Pamela Grundy and Susan Shackelford bring life and depth to stories of the many generations of female athletes who have fought for liberation on and off the court.

In this new and substantially expanded edition, Grundy and Shackelford provide a fresh view of the sport that extends to the present. They chart the expanding visibility of college programs, the growing dynamism of the WNBA, and players' courageous leadership on social issues such as sexuality and race, drawing on the actions and reflections of stars such as Seimone Augustus, Kim Mulkey, Brittney Griner, Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Breanna Stewart, Dawn Staley, and Caitlin Clark. The result is a compelling story of women’s empowerment through sport over the past century.

Table of Contents

Cover

pp. 1

Half Title Page, Title Page, Copyright

pp. i-iv

Contents

pp. v-vi

Introduction: Always Been Lit

pp. 1-4

Chapter 1. College Ladies on the Court

pp. 5-23

Chapter 2. High School Girls Spur the Sport

pp. 24-40

Chapter 3. Black Women Embrace the Game

pp. 41-54

Chapter 4. Crowning National Champions

pp. 55-71

Chapter 5. A Man's Game

pp. 72-84

Chapter 6. Keeping the Flame Alive

pp. 85-98

Chapter 7. The Fight for Title IX

pp. 99-117

Chapter 8. Growing Pains

pp. 118-133

Chapter 9. Dazzling Moves, Spinning Wheels

pp. 134-148

Chapter 10. Marshaling Momentum

pp. 149-171

Chapter 11. Tantalizing Glimpses

pp. 172-188

Chapter 12. Intrinsic Confidence

pp. 189-203

Chapter 13. Powering Up

pp. 204-218

Acknowledgments

pp. 219-220

Appendix

pp. 221-224

Notes

pp. 225-240

Bibliography

pp. 241-252

Index

pp. 253-266
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