The law was based on a simple premise: that men and women should have the same opportunities to compete in sports and over the past three decades the progress in women's sports has been remarkable.

Tamika Catchings is one of many WNBA players who has benefited from the passage of Title IX 30 years ago. Mitchell Layton WNBAE/Getty Images

Today's WNBA players are just the latest athletes to benefit form Title IX and in recognition of the opportunities gained since 1972.

According to the Rocky Mountain News, 30 years ago, fewer than 300,000 girls played high school sports. Today, 2.8 million do.

About 30,000 women played in college the year Title IX was signed, and most paid their own way through school.

Colleges in 1972 awarded female athletes $100,000 - for all women who played in sports.

Now, more than 150,000 women play college sports. They share $372 million a year in scholarships.

"The difference is night and day," said Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women's Sports Foundation. "Night and day."

From WNBA.com Chat: Sue Bird, Friday, 2:30 p.m. ET Lifetime Player's Journal: Title IX Send the Fire your Title IX stories Summer Sanders' chat transcript From Around the Web ESPN.com: Title IX Turns 30 ESPN.com: Summer of '72 changed everything USA Today: Giving Title IX a sporting chance USA Today: Title IX still controversial Rocky Mountain News Sports afforded new dawn, horizons Miami Herald Pro women's leagues are here to stay Low pay discourage women from going into coaching Female athletes trail men on sports money spent

From Around the Web (cont.) Seattle Times Title IX turns 30 The '60s: Cathy Benedetto The '70s: Jeanne Eggart The '80s: Joyce Walker The '90s: Kate Starbird The 2000s: Sue Bird The future: Yasmin Fuller