Counting Down The Best Women's Sporting Moments So Far

Women's Sport has changed dramatically for the better in an extremely short period of time. And in spite of its challenges and short comings produced some of the greatest narratives in sports history. As we get closer to the Women's World Cup on home soil, we count down some of the most iconic and groundbreaking achievements in Women's sporting history. 

10. Wilma Rudolph wins three gold medals (1960) 

When your name appears on a postage stamp, you know you've made an important contribution to the world of sports. Rudolph was a significant role model for both female and black athletes. She competed well at the 1956 Olympics, winning a bronze medal, but she was at her best in 1960. Rudolph won three gold medals, including the 100 and 200meter sprints, making her the world's fastest woman.

9. Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs (1973) 

It's ironic that one of the most memorable moments in women's sports is also one of the most sexist. Yes, the Battle of the Sexes tennis match was quite ridiculous. Bobby Riggs was 55, and King was 29. Riggs had beaten Margaret Court 6-2, 6-1 earlier that year so, it was incredible when King defeated Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. The Houston Astrodome was crowded with 30,000 people, the greatest crowd ever to see a tennis match, and a worldwide TV audience of 50 million tuned in. King was a revolutionary; she founded the WTA and was a driving force in the struggle for equal prize money for women at Grand Slams. After winning the US Open in 1972, she refused to compete the next year if there was no equal prize money, and the following year, there was.

8. First WNBA game (1997) 

The WNBA launched in 1997 with eight clubs, several of which are no longer in existence. However, the first two teams to take the floor continue to do so, with the New York Liberty facing the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks would win the game, and this saw a new league established.

7. First Women's World Cup (1991) 

Men had been competing in World Cups since the 1930s, thus a Women's World Cup was long overdue. This 1991 competition was not technically considered a “World Cup” because FIFA was concerned about awarding the tournament its name, however, it was a success. The United States triumphed by defeating Norway in the finals, and the Women's World Cup is now as powerful as ever.

6. Steffi Graf’s 1988 Golden Grand Slam 

Steffi Graf, the greatest female tennis player of all time, was ahead of her time when, at the age of 19, she accomplished what no man or woman had done before, and no one has been able to achieve since: win all four grand slams and an Olympic Gold Medal in the same calendar year. Graf held the number one position for a record 377 weeks, the longest tenure of any male or female tennis player since the WTA and ATP began providing rankings. She was ranked third when she retired, having won the most Grand Slam singles championships of any male or female since the open era began.

5. Marta breaks World Cup goal record (2019) 

The 37-year-old is recognised as one of the finest female football players of all time, having been in five World Cups. Despite Marta's best efforts, Brazil isn't known as the women's powerhouse that it is on the men's side today. Since 2003, the dynamic scorer has been scoring goals in World Cups. She holds the record for most goals scored in either the men's or women's World Cups, with 17, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose's 16 goals.

4. The Serena Slam (2003) 

Serena Williams has accomplished nearly everything in her tennis career. This involves simultaneously holding all four Grand Slam titles. While she didn't win them all in the same calendar year, when she won the Australian Open in 2003, she became the first woman to be the defending champion of all four major championships. Only five women have done so, and Williams is the one who earned the title of the Serena Slam.

3. The 1999 Women’s World Cup Final (1999) 

We all recall the moment, when the United States and China faced off in a penalty shootout. Brandi Chastain took the penalty, scored a goal, and celebrated by ripping her shirt off. The United States won the Women's World Cup, and it was an unforgettable sporting moment. The United States hosted the Women's World Cup in 1999, and the team rapidly stole the national spotlight as they advanced to the Final against China. 90,000 spectators packed the Rosebowl to see the game live, while 40 million watched on TV around the world.

The picture of Brandy pulling off her top, dropping to her knees, and displaying only her sports bra remains one of the most famous images of women's sports.

2. Cathy Freeman (1990, 1994 and 2000)

Cathy Freeman became the first Aboriginal Commonwealth Games medallist in 1990, at the age of 16, when the Australian relay team she was a part of won first place in the 4x100m relay. She won double gold in the Commonwealth Games in Canada in 1994 and wore both the Australian and Aboriginal flags.

We'll also never forget the 49.11 seconds of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Cathy was chosen to light the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics. There were 110,000 people packed into the stands, millions watching on television, and all officials, employees, competitors, and cleaners came to a halt for this one precious minute of the Games.

The pressure on Cathy was immense as she wasn't only racing for her nation, but also for her people. The country held its breath as Cathy rocketed down the straight into history in her green and gold head-to-toe body costume. Celebrations exploded around the country as she won gold in the 400m and carried both the Aboriginal and Australian flag representing her people. 

1. England winning the Women’s Euros 2022

England women won their first international trophy after defeating Germany 2-1 in extra time in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium. In the second half, Ella Toone came off the bench to score a stunning goal before Lina Magull levelled. Chloe Kelly, on the other hand, sealed the deal in extra time.

Winning the European Championship, meant bringing home a major international trophy for the first time since the men's team won the World Cup in 1966, which seems like a lifetime ago for many of the supporters who packed Wembley Stadium for the game. However, England's women's football team did not just win the title. The squad has captivated the public's attention. The match drew 87,192 spectators, the largest turnout for a men's or women's Euros football event. Newspapers are now dedicating many pages to coverage of women's sports and England's top athletes, embracing a brighter future for women's sport.