On Sept. 29, 1973, Virginia’s varsity field hockey team took the pitch at Nameless Field against Roanoke College. As the Cavaliers that afternoon, they represented more than just a field hockey team. They represented the first intercollegiate contest by University of Virginia female students and ushered in a new era.

Today, on the 50th anniversary of Title IX being passed as a law, we share with you a list of 50 moments, milestones and accomplishments related to Virginia Athletics since June 23, 1972.

MILESTONES AND MOMENTS

  • 1973: First women’s sports played at Virginia: field hockey, basketball and tennis
  • 1973: First female head coaches hired at Virginia: Barbara Kelly (basketball), Chesley Garrett (field hockey), Lindsey Burn (tennis).
  • 1976: First Virginia female All-American: Dorothy Dilts, swimming and diving.
  • 1976: First Virginia female athlete to compete in the Olympics: Wendy Weinberg, swimming and diving, Montréal Olympic Games, 800m freestyle, bronze medal.
  • 1977: First Virginia women’s ACC individual championship: Beth Bondurant and Barbara Goldman, tennis.
  • 1981: First National Individual Championship: Aileen O’Connor, indoor track and field, 5000m, AIAW Championship.
  • 1981: First Virginia women’s ACC team championship: cross country.
  • 1981: First Virginia women’s NCAA team championship: cross country.
  • 1982: First Virginia women’s individual national championship: Lesley Welch, cross country.
  • 1983: First Virginia female National Player of the Year: Lesley Welch, cross country, Honda Sports Award.
  • 1983: First Virginia Female ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Ann Bair, basketball.
  • 1984: First Virginia Female ACC Coach of the Year: Debbie Ryan.
  • 1987: First world record set by Virginia female athletes: Marianne Downey, Sandi Schuler, Phyllis Buber and Shelly McBride, 4×1500, 16:14:47.
  • 1988: First Virginia female ACC Player of the Year: Donna Holt, basketball.
  • 1988: Longest women’s sport winning streak at Virginia: softball, 25 games (March 19-April 17, 1988).
  • 1989: First Virginia female ACC Freshman of the Year: Dawn Staley, basketball.
  • 1990: First Virginia women’s sport ranked No. 1: women’s soccer, October 1990.
  • 1991: First Virginia female National Coach of the Year: Debbie Ryan, basketball, Naismith National Coach of the Year.
  • 1991: First Virginia ACC Female Athlete of the Year (Mary Garber Award): Dawn Staley, basketball.
  • 1991-1992: First repeat Honda Award Winner at Virginia: Dawn Staley, basketball.
  • 1995: First female Virginia athlete to participate in a World Cup: Amanda Cromwell.
  • 1996: First Virginia female athlete to win Olympic Gold: Melanie Valerio, 4x100m Relay and Dawn Staley, basketball
  • 1996: First Virginia National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration honorees: Amanda Cromwell (soccer), Cathy Grimes-Miller (basketball), Margaret Sloan (track and field), Cheryl Gleason (field hockey), Lisa Palmer (softball), Karen Burgess Williamson (swimming), Deborah Tyson (volleyball), Kara Nuss (rowing), Dr. Mary Slaughter (tennis), Dr. Sue Shapiro (trainer), Heather Dow (field hockey and lacrosse).
  • 1996: Val Ackerman named President of the WNBA.
  • 1997: First female Virginia athlete to be selected in the first round of a Draft: Tammi Reiss, WNBA, Utah Starzz, pick No. 5.
  • 1998: NCAA Woman of the Year: Peggy Boutilier, field hockey and lacrosse.
  • 2002: First female Virginia athlete to be named to their sport’s National Hall of Fame: Julie Williams, lacrosse, National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
  • 2003: Honda Award Winner: Amy Appelt, lacrosse.
  • 2008: First female Virginia athlete to be named to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame: Dawn Staley, basketball.
  • 2009: Highest attended women’s sporting event at Virginia: basketball, vs. Tennessee, Nov. 22, 2009.
  • 2010: Natalie Randolph named Coolidge High School football head coach.
  • 2015: First female Virginia athlete to be selected No. 1 overall in a draft: Morgan Brian, NWSL, Houston Dash.
  • 2015: First Virginia athletes to win a World Cup: Morgan Brian and Becky Sauerbrunn.
  • 2015-2017: First female three-time National Player of the Year at Virginia: Tara Vittese, field hockey.
  • 2016: Honda Award Winner: Danielle Collins, tennis.
  • 2016: First Virginia female Olympic head coach: Dawn Staley, Rio Olympics.
  • 2017: First female athletic director at Virginia: Carla Williams.
  • 2017: Jenny Boucek named assistant coach of the Sacramento Kings.

SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR FEMALE CAVALIERS

  • 9 NCAA team championships.
  • 35 NCAA individual champions.
  • 64 ACC team championships.
  • 483 ACC individual champions.
  • 891 All-American selections.
  • 24 Hall of Fame inductions.
  • 31 Olympians.
  • 23 ACC Coaches of the Year.
  • 7 National Coaches of the Year.
  • 63 ACC Players of the Year selections.
  • 44 ACC Freshmen of the Year.
  • 796 ACC All-Academic selections.