In a League of Her Own

Some of the most influential women in sports tell their stories of courage, adversity, and triumph to trailblazer Bonnie-Jill Laflin. A half-century after Title IX legislation leveled the playing field for women and girls, the time has come to celebrate the lives and careers of some of the most notable groundbreaking women in sports, while also encouraging future generations to make history of their own. In a League of Her Own: Celebrating Female Firsts in Sports shares the stories of nineteen impactful women in sports, including Billie Jean King, Danica Patrick, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Laila Ali, Jeanie Buss, and Mary Lou Retton. These iconic women open up to Bonnie-Jill Laflin, herself a trailblazer as the first and only female NBA scout, about the sobering realities females face in the sports world and the many obstacles they had to overcome. But they also celebrate the amazing support they received from colleagues, friends, family, and the women who came before them, and impart their own desires to inspire young women through their stories. In a League of Her Own gives these remarkable women a voice to share their experiences across the sports industry. They discuss such issues as the pressures of social media, the sexism that still exists in boardrooms and locker rooms, and their hopes for closer equality in the sports space. Their journeys are each unique, but together, they have changed the face of sports and culture forever.

Bonnie-Jill Laflin is a trailblazing sports broadcaster, TV personality, author, and philanthropist. She is the first and only female NBA scout, holding the front-office executive position with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the first woman to dance at a professional level for three teams in two sports-the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the NFL's San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. She is the first woman to be awarded six championship rings in two professional sports, earning a Super Bowl ring and five NBA championship rings. Laflin is co-host of the brand-new "Women's Western Sports Roundup" on the Cowgirl Channel and has reported for many high-profile networks, including ESPN, NBA TV, NBC/NBC Sports, NFL Films, CBS, E!, BBC Sports, SiriusXM, and Fox Sports. She is founder of the non-profit Hounds and Heroes and Horses and resides on her ranch in Fort Worth, Texas, with her rescued animals.

Foreword Introduction 1: Billie Jean King: Tennis Player 2: Nancy Lieberman: Basketball Player 3: Jayne Kennedy: Sports Broadcaster 4: Martha Josey: Barrel Racer 5: Jackie Joyner-Kersee: Track and Field Olympian 6: Mary Lou Retton: Olympic Gymnast 7: Amy Trask: NFL Executive 8: Julie Krone: Jockey 9: Manon Rhéaume: Canadian Ice Hockey Goaltender 10: Laila Ali: Professional Boxer 11: Trish Stratus: Professional Wrestler/Sports Entertainer 12: Renel Brooks-Moon: Public Address Announcer for the San Francisco Giants 13: Danica Patrick: Racecar Driver 14: Melissa Stockwell: Paralympian 15: Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir: Former collegiate basketball player 16: Jeanie Buss: Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers 17: Rachel Balkovec: Baseball manager in the New York Yankees organization 18: Rachel Luba: Sports Agent 19: Katie Sowers: NFL Coach