A dozen of the twentieth-century’s greatest female athletes show how they mad a lasting impact not only in their sport but also on society. Veteran author and journalist Ken Rappoport showcases pioneering women, from tennis pro Althea Gibson, the first African-American woman to win at Wimbledon, to Susan Butcher, four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Each dramatic, action-packed profile shows how these athletes overcame discrimination against their gender, and sometimes their race, and challenged popular misconceptions about women and sports. Young readers will find in each of these women the courage, perseverance, and dedication that made them great athletes during their own times and strong role models for today. A bonus chapter at the end highlights The All-American Red Heads basketball team.

Introduction -- Gertrude Ederle, "Against all odds" -- Babe Didrikson Zaharias, "The other Babe" -- Susan Butcher, "The magnificent musher" -- Julie Krone, "The horse whisperer" -- Shirley Muldowney, "Driving into history" -- Billie Jean King, "Serving one up for women's rights" -- Wilma Rudolph, "The Clarksville comet" -- Joan Benoit Samuelson, "Marathon woman" -- Sonya Henie, "The ice queen" -- Althea Gibson, "The Jackie Robinson of tennis" -- Nadia Comaneci, "The perfect gymnast" -- Manon Rheaume, "Manon the warrior" -- All-American Red Heads, "A team of their own" -- Conclusion.