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Game Changers: American Women Athletes Who Made History

These pioneering and high-achieving athletes demonstrate that women and girls have the grit and skills to make a mark in the world of sports and strike a blow for women's equality. 


Photograph of Althea Gibson

Tennis Dress, worn by Billie Jean King during the "Battle of the Sexes"

Serena and Venus

U.S. National Team Soccer Jersey, worn by Mia Hamm

Dorothy Hamill

Eleanor Holm and Helene Madison

Ice Skating Costume, worn by Kristi Yamaguchi

Mary Lou Retton (Gymnast) and Coach Karolyi, McDonald's Cup, Madison Square Garden, New York City, from the series Shooting for the Gold

Dawn Staley

U.S. Women's Basketball Team, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold

Babe Didrikson postcard from the 1932 Summer Olympic Games

Debi Thomas

Chromogenic print of Gabby Douglas performing

Serena Williams, Miami Beach 2003

Membership card to the American Tennis Association for Althea Gibson

Practice jersey worn by Cheryl Miler

Venus and Serena Williams

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Gertrude Ederle

Chris Evert

South Bend Blue Sox Baseball Dress, worn by Betsy Jochum

"Babe" Didrikson

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Jersey worn by Saskia Webber for the New York Power

Tennis Outfit, Worn by Althea Gibson

Mary Decker, Runner, U.S. vs. G.D.R. Meet, Los Angeles, from the series Shooting for the Gold

Olympic Gymnastics Leotard, worn by Nastia Liukin

Iron-on patch with Dorothy Hamill

Marion Jones

Marion Jones

Olympic Skating Skin Suit, worn by Bonnie Blair

Julianne McNamara, Gymnast, Huntington Beach, California, from the series Shooting for the Gold

Tracy Ruiz, Synchronized Swimmer, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold

Goggles worn by Cheryl Miler

Dara Torres, Swimmer, Mission Viejo, California, from the series Shooting for the Gold


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