: : Timeline : :

1891		Basketball invented by Dr. James Naismith
1892		Senda Berenson adapts the rules for women and introduces the game at Smith College
1892		First inter-institutional (extramural) contest between the University of California and Miss Head's School
1893		Clara Gregory Baer introduced basket ball to girls at Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans
1895		First publicly played basketball game in the South (demonstration game at the Southern Athletic Club in New Orleans by Sophie Newcomb College students)
1895		Clara Gregory Baer publishes first basket ball rules for women, called "Basquette"
1896		First intercollegiate game played between Stanford University and University of California at Berkeley
1899		Formation of first Women's Basket Ball Rules Committee
1901		First official publication of Basket Ball for Women (three court game) by Spalding Athletic Library with Senda Berenson as editor
1903		Halves shortened from 20 minutes to 15 minutes
1905		Executive Committee on Basket Ball Rules (National Women's Basketball Committee) formed under auspices of the American Physical Education Association (APEA)
1905		Six to nine players on a team, 11 officials
1906		Five to nine players on a side
1908		Placing one hand on a ball held by an opponent is a foul
1908		Double teaming a shooter is a foul
1910		Dribbling is outlawed
1913		Officiating first appeared in guides
1913		Single dribble returns, but ball must bounce knee high
1916		No coaching is allowed from the sidelines during game (except halftime) No timeouts, no substitutions
1918		Basket with open bottom instead of closed basket with pull chain becomes official
1918		Bounce pass legalized
1918		Substitutes may be used, but they cannot re-enter the game
1922		There must be at least six players on a side, maximum of nine
1923		Formation of the Women's Division of the National Amateur Athletic Federation (NAAF)
1925		Goals scored by one-hand overhand throw, two-hand underhand throw, shot-put throw, and throw with back to the basket count as one point
1926		Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) sponsors first-ever national women's basketball championship, using men's rules
1927		Players must wear numbers on the back of their jerseys
1928		Formation of first national women's officiating board: Women's National Officials Rating Committee
1929		First AAU All-America team selected
1931		Techniques for officiating included in rulebook
1931		Babe Didrikson leads Golden Cyclones to AAU national title
1932		All field goals count as two points
1932		Guarding on all planes permitted
1934		Tulsa Business College won the first of three consecutive AAU national titles
1936		Formation of the All-American Red Heads
1938		Three-court game changed to two-court game with six players per team (three guards and three forwards)
1951		Hanes Hosiery wins the first of three consecutive AAU national titles
1953		"Overtime" period established - following one overtime, games are decided by "sudden death"
1953		USA wins gold in first World Championships
1955		USA women's basketball team played in first Pan American Games basketball competition and won the gold medal
1956		Ball can be tied with two hands around ball held by opponent
1956		Three seconds in the lane is a violation
1962		Each team is permitted two players to roam the court
1962		Player allowed to "snatch" the ball from another player
1962		Nashville Business College wins first of eight consecutive AAU National Championships
1965		Joint Committee AAU/DGWS Rules established
1966		Continuous unlimited dribble becomes official rule
1969		First National Invitational Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament held at West Chester State College in Pennsylvania
1971		Five-player, full-court game and 30-second clock become official
1975		First Kodak All-America Team
1976		Women's basketball makes its Olympic debut
1977		Lusia Harris is awarded the first Broderick Cup as the most outstanding athlete in the AIAW
1978		Formation of Women's Professional Basketball League (eight teams)
1978		Carol Blazejowski named as inaugural recipient of Wade Trophy
1981		Women's Basketball Coaches Association formed
1982		First NCAA National Championship held
1984		USA captures its first Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles
1986		Nancy Lieberman becomes the first woman to play in a men's professional basketball league when she joins the USBL's Springfield Fame
1987		Three-point field goals introduced to collegiate basketball
1988		USA wins gold medal at the Seoul Olympics
1991		The Liberty Basketball Association is launched, folds after one exhibition game
1992		USA finishes with bronze medal at Barcelona Olympics
1996		American Basketball League tips off its first season
1996		USA recaptures the gold medal at the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta
1997		Inaugural WNBA season
1999		Grand opening and induction of the Inaugural Class of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame