1892
 Gymnastics instructor Senda Berenson Abbott adapts James Naismith's basketball rules for women and introduces the game at Smith College.
First inter-institutional contest between the University of California and Miss Head's School.
1895
Clara Gregory Baer, a physical educator, introduces basketball to girls at Sophie Newcomb College, New Orleans.
March 13, 1895
Baer publishes Basquette, the first set of basketball rules for women.
April 4, 1896
The first women's intercollegiate game takes place at the Armory Hall in San Francisco between Stanford and Cal. Stanford won the contest 2-1.
1901
First "official" publication of Basket Ball for Women (three-court game) by the Spalding Athletic Library with Berenson as editor.
1903
Halves shortened from 20 to 15 minutes.
1905
Six to nine players on a team; game called by 11 officials.
Executive Committee on Basket Ball Rules (National Women's Basketball Committee) forms under the auspices of the American Physical Education Association.
1916
No coaching during game (except halftime).
1918
Rewriting of rules to conform to men's wording and sequence.
Basket with open bottom instead of a closed basket with pullchain became official.
1918-19
Dr. J. Anna Norris publishes the Official Basket Ball Guide for Women.
1924
International Women's Sports Federation is formed and hosts its version of the Olympics; women's basketball is included in the competition.
Publication of The Sportswoman magazine (1924-36).
1925
37 states hold high school varsity basketball and/or state tournaments.
1926
The Amateur Athletic Union sponsors the first-ever national women's basketball championship, using men's rules.
1936
Formation of an All American Red Heads Team; used men's rules and competed against men's teams.
1938
Three-court game changes to two-court game, six players per team.
1953
The USA women's basketball team wins the gold in the World Championships.
1969
The Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW) hosts its first of three "national championships" of women's college basketball. West Chester State College wins.
1971
Five-player, full-court game is adopted.
30-second shot clock is introduced.
1972
President Richard Nixon signs Title IX of the Educational Amendment of 1972, stating that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal assistance."
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March 19, 1972
The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women holds its first women's collegiate basketball championship. Immaculata College defeated West Chester State, 52-48.
1973
First year of scholarships for women in AIAW.
1974
The Women's Sports Foundation is formed.
March 20-23, 1974
The AIAW's women's collegiate basketball national championships gain television and radio coverage for the first time.
Jan. 27, 1975
Immaculata College defeats the University of Maryland, 85-63, in the first-ever regular-season, nationally televised game.
Feb. 22, 1975
Immaculata College defeats Queens College, 65-61, before approximately 12,000 fans in the first women's college game played in Madison Square Garden.
March 1975
The Eastman Kodak Company sponsors the inaugural Women's Basketball Coaches Clinic in conjunction with the national women's basketball collegiate championships, marking the first women's basketball corporate sponsorships.
Kodak also sponsors the first-ever All-America Team.
July 1976
Women's basketball debuts at the Montreal Olympics. At 18, Nancy Lieberman becomes the youngest basketball player in Olympic history to win a medal when the U.S. takes silver.
November 1976
Mel Greenberg, a journalist from the Philadelphia Inquirer, compiles and releases the first women's basketball Top 20 national poll.
1977
First Broderick Cup is awarded for most outstanding athlete in AIAW. Luisa Harris, Delta State, wins.
March 1978
First AIAW national televised basketball championship game (the game was taped-delayed one day on NBC's Sportsworld). UCLA beats Maryland before a record crowd of 9,351.
The inaugural Margaret Wade Trophy, named after the Delta State coach who led her team to three consecutive AIAW titles, is awarded to Carol Blazejowski of Montclair State.
Dec. 9, 1978
The first game of the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL) took place between the Chicago Hustle and Milwaukee Does. The eight-team league lasted three seasons.
Aug. 30, 1979
Ann Meyers, 24, four-time All-America at UCLA, signs a one-year, $50,000 contract with the NBA's Indiana Pacers. Meyers receives a tryout, but does not make the team.
1981
Last year of AIAW National Championships.
First year of NAIA Women's National Championships.
First NCAA Women's National Championships.
Women's Basketball Coaches Association formed.
1982
USA National Team beats USSR team.
March 28, 1982
Louisiana Tech defeats Cheney State, 76-62, to win the first NCAA Women's Basketball championship.
October 1982
The AIAW folds after losing its anti-trust lawsuit against the NCAA.
1983
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association and Naismith Player of the Year awards are given for the first time.
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1984
The U.S. women's basketball team captures its first Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles.
The NCAA introduces a smaller basketball for women.
1984
Berenson Abbott, Bertha Teague and Margaret Wade are inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, the first women to be enshrined.
1985
Former University of Kansas guard Lynette Woodard, 28, becomes the first woman to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.
1986
Lieberman, 28, becomes the first woman to play in a men's pro basketball league when she joins the USBL's Springfield Fame.
1987
Lieberman joins the Washington Generals, which tours with the Harlem Globetrotters.
The NCAA introduces the three-point shot to women's collegiate basketball.
1988
USA wins gold medal at the Seoul Olympics.
June 1990
Bernadette Locke becomes the first female Division I coach of a men's team when she joins the University of Kentucky as an assistant coach to Rick Pitino.
1991
The Liberty Basketball Association is launched. It featured shorter courts, lower rims and unitards. The league folds after one exhibition game.
1992
The Women's World Basketball Association is launched in the Midwest with six teams. It folds shortly thereafter.
The U.S. wins the bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics.
1993
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is planned for Knoxville, Tenn. The Hall of Fame is scheduled to open in 1999.
November 1994
The inaugural 16-team women's preseason National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is held.
1995-1996
The first United States Senior Women's National Team compiles an undefeated record of 52-0 against NCAA and international opponents.
April 24, 1996
The NBA Board of Governors approves of the Women's National Basketball Association concept.
Aug. 4, 1996
The U.S. women recapture the gold medal in the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta.
Oct. 18, 1996
The ABL tipped off its first season with eight teams.
Oct. 23, 1996
The first players, Rebecca Lobo and Sheryl Swoopes, are signed to play in the WNBA. They are soon followed by Olympic teammate Lisa Leslie.
Oct. 30, 1996
Eight cities (Charlotte, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento and Utah) are selected to be homes to the WNBA's charter teams.
Feb. 27, 1997
The WNBA holds its Elite Draft for 16 signed veteran players.
April 28, 1997
The WNBA holds its draft for college players and unsigned veterans. Tina Thompson of USC is the first pick.
June 21, 1997
The inaugural WNBA season begins.
Present...
WNBA's 10th Anniversary :)
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