UCLA Athletics Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Title IX
June 23, 2022 | Bruin Athletics
On June 23, 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act changed the landscape of collegiate athletics, opening up opportunities never before seen for women in sports.
A year after Title IX became law, UCLA began competing in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) under the direction of Women's Athletic Director Dr. Judith Holland, and in 1974, UCLA granted its first women's athletic scholarship to Ann Meyers for basketball.
UCLA won its first AIAW national championship in 1974 when the women's volleyball team swept through the AIAW Nationals with eight wins in three days. The 1978 women's basketball team, led by Meyers, won the AIAW national championship in front of over 9,000 fans in Pauley Pavilion. Bruin teams went on to win eight AIAW titles from 1974-81.
Further boosting the visibility of women's sports, the NCAA began to sponsor women's championships in 1981-82. UCLA thrived in the NCAA setting as well, expanding its national championship total to 56 after winning 43 NCAA titles from 1982-2022. UCLA now fields 14 women's intercollegiate sports.
With legendary figures such as Meyers, Lisa Fernandez, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Florence Griffith Joyner, Bruin women have cemented their place amongst the greatest athletes in the world. And they are far from the only ones to achieve top success in their field. Former UCLA female athletes have also made big impacts in areas such as medicine, science, government, business and philanthropy, undoubtedly aided by the scholarship opportunities granted to them as a result of Title IX.
In honor of the 50-year anniversary of Title IX, UCLA women's athletics will be celebrated throughout 2022-23. At the forefront of the celebration is a philanthropic campaign โ Women of Westwood โ that focuses on enhancing educational and athletic-related resources to build a sustainable future for the women's athletics programs at UCLA and the next generation of female leaders.
Alumni, fans and friends can show their support in a variety of ways throughout the year for "Women of Westwood," including attending a competition, celebrating on social media and through philanthropic gifts. Financial support for Women of Westwood focuses on four areas:
- The establishment of a new Women of Westwood endowment which in perpetuity will support operational expenses and enhancements across all 14 women's sports offered at UCLA. This endowment will supply the UCLA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics with a perpetual source of income that provides the resources needed to attract, develop, and retain the nation's most talented female student-athletes and coaches.
- A focus on funding female student-athlete scholarships through establishing additional scholarship endowments. Attracting talented female student-athletes to UCLA is critical in order to build and sustain a world class women's athletics program and nothing is more essential in attracting the best student-athletes than access to financial aid.
- An effort to endow women's coaching positions at UCLA. Coaches spend more time with UCLA student-athletes than any other member of the UCLA family, providing invaluable lessons in becoming champions in the classroom, in competition and in the community. Coaching endowments supplement sport-specific budgets and provide well-deserved, and much needed, support to the coaches leading our student-athletes.
- Broad-based support from all alumni, fans and friends of UCLA Athletics' in support of female student-athletes and the 14 women's programs with gifts of any amount given directly to a women's sport at UCLA. Gifts to one of UCLA's women's programs will provide sport-specific operational support at the discretion of the head coach.
For more information on the Women of Westwood campaign, visit woodenathleticfund.com/women-of-westwood.
Additionally, UCLA Athletics will celebrate and honor some of the legendary women and memorable and inspiring moments from the past 50 years on its social media channels.
Women's NCAA Championships by Sport (43)
Beach Volleyball โ 2 (2019, 2018)
Golf โ 3 (2011, 2004, 1991)
Gymnastics โ 7 (2018, 2010, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1997)
Soccer โ 1 (2013)
Softball โ 12 (2019, 2010, 2004, 2003, 1999, 1992, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1982)
Tennis โ 2 (2014, 2008)
Indoor Track & Field โ 2 (2001, 2000)
Outdoor Track & Field โ 3 (2004, 1983, 1982)
Volleyball โ 4 (2011, 1991, 1990, 1984)
Water Polo โ 7 (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2001)
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Additional Women's National Championships (13)
Badminton โ 1 (1977)
Basketball โ 1 (1978)
Softball โ 1 (1978)
Tennis โ 1 (1981)
Track & Field โ 2 (1977, 1975)
Volleyball โ 3 (1975, 1974, 1971)
Water Polo โ 4 (2000, 1998, 1997, 1996)
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