As we gear up for the 2025 Compete Women's Leadership Summit on October 8-9 in Wesley Chaple, we want to recognize the achievements and contributions of women athletes throughout history. To say that women have faced immense challenges in the world of sports hardly begins to describe it. From being barred from competition to battling for equal playing space and equipment to equal television rights and equal pay – it’s been a long battle for true recognition. Yet in spite of these obstacles, female athletes have broken records, shattered barriers and paved the way for future generations of girls and women athletes. One of these pioneers was Wilma Rudolph, who overcame polio as a child to become the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at the 1960 Olympic Games held in Rome. Her dominance on the track inspired countless young girls to pursue athletics. Another pioneer is Billie Jean King who single handedly has changed the face of women’s tennis in particular and women’s sports in general. Some may only remember her 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, proving that women players were as good or better than the men and deserved equal prize money. In 1974 she founded the Women’s Sports Foundation that advocates for girls and women in sports through a number of avenues, including research, financial assistance to aspiring female athletes and opportunities for both girls and women to participate in sports.

Photo credit: Ce'Nedra Dillard

Photo credit: Gay Games XII Valencia 2026

Photo credit: Black Volleyball Circuit

Photo credit: Compete Sports Network

James Adler at Tropicana Field Photo credit: James Adler

Photo credit: International Pride Softball