Today is National Girls and Women in Sports Day 2014, celebrating female athletes everywhere.
The annual day was started by the Women’s Sports Foundation, an organization founded by Billie Jean King in 1974. Since its beginning, the non-profit organization has been educating youths on the importance of physical activity and advocating for equality for women in sports.
The foundation has played a large role in ensuring the schools and universities are in compliance with the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, commonly called Title IX.
Title IX states: “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 financial assistance.”
National Girls and Women in Sports Day is celebrated around the country by children, athletes, coaches, and educators.
This year’s theGrio’s 100 female athlete honorees include teen wrestler Kay-Ci Bele, WNBA star Swin Cash and young tennis sensation Sloane Stephens.
theGrio’s 100: Kay-Ci Bele, aspiring Olympic wrestler overcomes the odds
theGrio’s 100: Swin Cash, veteran WNBA forward can do it all
theGrio’s 100: Sloane Stephens, tennis’ next big thing, isn’t even 21
Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.