History of women in sports

From the very beginning of the modern organized sport, women have been actively fighting for their right to participate on an equal footing with men. In the past, they practiced certain sports, but with a social and entertainment element rather than a competition. Sports were considered a dangerous physical activity that did not suit fragile ladies.

Women in sports

It was not until the late 1800s and early 1900s that informal clubs began to form, and at the 1900 Olympics, 22 women competed along with men in sports such as sailing, field hockey or croquet, and equestrian sports. There were also events dedicated only to women, such as tennis and golf. In 1922, the first Women’s Olympic Games were held in Paris, where women competed in more strenuous physical disciplines such as shot put and 1000-meter run.

Professional sports for women is a relatively new phenomenon that emerged largely in the second half of the 20th century. Firstly, the 1950s and 1960s saw some progress for women in sport, especially at the Olympic level, but the formal and legal adoption of equal rights officially took place in 1972, by an act of the United States known as Title IX.

Female sports online betting

Nowadays, of course, such restrictions are in the past, and women can take part in any sport they want. Women’s leagues and teams can be found in almost every sport and their popularity is constantly growing. This is evident not only from the number of live broadcasts in which female athletes participate but also from their inclusion in online betting platforms. On these platforms, users can not only predict the results of events and matches of men’s teams but also place bets on various disciplines with female athletes, such as tennis from the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association), handball from EHF (European Handball Federation), Women’s Champions League, WNBA Basketball, The Premier Hockey Federation and many more.

Tennis

One of the most preferred sports by ladies is definitely tennis. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has existed since 1973 and was founded by Billy Jean King, one of the most famous women in the sport, who has won 39 major titles and is the number one former tennis player in the world. The association organizes the annual famous WTA tour, which consists of a series of international tennis tournaments for women. Also, the Association compiles its official ranking, which ranks professional tennis players.

Soccer

Another well-known women’s association in sports is the Women’s Champions League or the UEFA Women’s Cup. It involves the best women’s club teams from countries associated with the European governing body UEFA. The association was established in 2001, and in recent years the championship has undergone some changes to get as close as possible to the rules of the men’s classic version of the Champions League. The most successful club in the competition so far is Lyon, winning the title seven times (including five in a row from 2016 to 2020).

Basketball

Among the most-watched women’s tournaments are those of the Women’s National Basketball Association WNBA. The US Women’s Professional League was established in 1996 and consists of 12 teams. The WNBA season usually begins in May, with each team playing 36 games. The final round of the playoffs is known as the WNBA Finals. It is a series of the top five of the two winners in the semifinals and is held annually, currently scheduled for October.

Hockey

The Premier Hockey Federation is formerly known as the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). It’s a professional league in USA and Canada established in 2015. Currently, there are six teams in the PHF – the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and the Toronto Six.

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