[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3831-H3832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNITION OF THE ABL AND THE WNBA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida [Ms. Brown] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a bill 
that I will be offering later this week that honors the beginning of 
two new women's professional basketball leagues: the American 
Basketball League and the Women's National Basketball Association, also 
known as the ABL and the WNBA.
  Historically, women's basketball has come a long way. Even though the 
first national women's basketball tournament took place in 1926, 
college educators opposed basketball for women. They believed that 
women were not adequately prepared for such a rough game and that the 
game of basketball was not an appropriate sport for women.
  The stereotype of women's inability to play basketball carried into 
the second half of the century. By the 1970's, only 1 out of every 27 
women participated in any kind of high school sports. It was not until 
1972, with the passing of title IX to the Higher Education Act, when 
women's participation in basketball began to increase. It was this 
amendment that guaranteed the success of women's sports and created a 
fair, level playing field for sports equity.
  Now in 1997, it is the 25th anniversary of title 9 of the Higher 
Education Act. One out of every three high school girls participate in 
a sport. And basketball is recognized by girls as the most popular 
youth participant sport in the Nation. In college, participation and 
attendance at the women's basketball games have been at the highest 
ever. Since 1982, women's attendance at National Collegiate Athletic 
Association sports events have steadily increased from 1.1 million to 
4.2 million.
  Because the female student-athlete participation rate is at its 
highest ever, there were more women's basketball teams sponsored by 
NCAA institutions than men's basketball teams in the 1995-96 season. In 
fact, 97 percent of the NCAA active institutions sponsored a women's 
basketball program, making it the most sponsored NCAA sport during the 
1995-96 season.
  Women's basketball is also gaining ground in the media. In 1997, the 
Women's Division One NCAA Basketball Championship was the highest rated 
and most watched basketball event in cable television history.
  In general, women's college athletes have improved greatly. Women's 
athletic programs at NCAA member

[[Page H3832]]

schools have increased in participation, scholarship dollars, coaches' 
salaries, and recruiting expenditures over the past 5 years. As a 
result, the average number of women athletes per school in the NCAA 
Division One increased from 112 to 130 over the past 5 years.
  Internationally, women's basketball has also become very popular. 
Many people may not realize it, but 80 million women play basketball 
worldwide. Let me repeat that; 80 million women play basketball 
worldwide, an amazing figure.
  Last year, I saw firsthand how talented some of those women are when 
I attended one of the Team USA women's basketball games at the Olympics 
in Atlanta. It was very exciting and wonderful to see such a large 
crowd at this event. The USA female basketball team went on to win the 
gold medal. It is obvious that American women are the best players in 
the world.

                              {time}  1800

  The success of women's sports has proved that America is ready for 
women's professional basketball. We have built a generation of talented 
players who can compete internationally, and now it is time to showcase 
this talent here in our own country. These leagues will offer role 
models to younger women and promote greater chances for female 
athletes, continuing the tradition of gender equity in sports, first 
promoted through title IX.
  This Saturday the WNBA will begin its first season, while the ABL is 
gearing up for a second successful season in the fall. As a Member of 
Congress, we should honor these professional women athletes and support 
them. As we congratulate the ABL and the WNBA on their inaugural 
season, we should also recognize the sponsors, owners, and fans of the 
leagues' teams for their commitment.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that Members of both parties will sign on 
as original cosponsors to my bill and pass this resolution in the near 
future.

                          ____________________