The Washington Mystics recognize the 27th anniversary of National Girls and Women in Sports Day (Feb. 6) with a week-long celebration.

Jasmine Thomas on NGWSD Celebration

I grew up in an era where Title IX had been passed, established and extended. Therefore, playing sports was always something I took for granted. As a child, I went from gym to gym watching my brother play basketball but he wasn’t the only athlete I knew of. I had classmates and cousins who also played various sports for local recreation centers or AAU programs. When I finally took an interest in playing basketball not one person told me I couldn’t or judged me for wanting to try. In fact, when people realized that I was talented they encouraged me to become more serious and pursue the sport long-term since the WNBA had become a notable professional league. Read on...

Highlights in Women's Sports History:
1855 - The first modern game of hockey was played in Kingston, Ontario reflecting the same rules used today.
1895 - Volleyball was invented in Holyoke, MA. In the 1990’s, volleyball has gained popularity making it the second-largest participation sport in the U.S.
1900 - Nineteen women competed for the first time in the Olympic Games in Paris, France. They played in tennis, golf, and croquet. Golfer, Margaret Abbott was the first American to win an Olympic gold medal that same year.
1907 - The first organized bowling league for women began in St. Louis, MO. The first of three women’s bowling tournaments were organized by the American Bowling Congress.
1917 - Lucy Diggs Slowe became the first female African-American national champion in any sport, winning the singles titles at the first American Tennis Association National Tournament.
1929 - The first women’s college track team was formed at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, offering scholarships to women athletes.
1972 - Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was passed by Congress. “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any education program or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.”
1974 - Little League baseball began to admit girls; Bunny Taylor became the first girl to pitch a no-hitter.
1979 - Softball debuted at the Pan-American games and the US Women’s Team won gold.
1991 - The US Women’s Soccer team won the first-ever women’s world championship.
1996 - Sheryl Swoopes became the first player signed to The Women’s National Basketball Association.
1997 - The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) had its first game on June 5th.
1999 - The Women’s Basketball hall of Fame opened in Knoxville, TN making it the first Hall of Fame dedicated to any women’s sport.
2004 - The participation of women in the Olympic Games was historic. Forty-four percent of all Olympic athletes were women, the highest percentage ever.
2009 - Nancy Lieberman became the coach of the Texas Legends in the NBA Development League, and emerged as the first woman to coach a professional men’s basketball team.
2012 - Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglass was named the AP female Athlete of the Year.
2013 - February 6th marks the 27th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day.