Showing results for "The Women" in Sports & Recreation

Mary Earps caught the football bug at an early age, kicking a ball in the back garden with her brother, and training with his team. At the age of ten she joined West Bridgford Colts and an incredible footballing journey began, which would take her from success in Germany, to Manchester United - and on to the biggest stages of all. Discover how the skill, passion and determination of 'Mary Queen of Stops' helped England to victory in the European Championships, and led her to be recognised as the best goalkeeper in the world.

As an energetic six-year-old, Beth Mead was taken to a weekly local football session by her mum. Finding a passion for the game, Beth often found herself as the only girl on the team. Despite being laughed at for this, she let her natural talent do the talking. At 16, Mead was signed to Sunderland where she made a name for herself as a top goalscorer. Putting off offers from Arsenal until she completed her university degree, Mead continued juggling work, study and football until she graduated. She then signed to Arsenal and earned a place as a Lioness, representing the England national team.

Celebrate the 2023 Women's World Cup and the unstoppable rise of England's legendary Lionesses! Discover the incredible moments and players that have changed the women's game.

Mamie "Peanut" Johnson had one dream: to play professional baseball. She was a talented player, but she wasn't welcome in the segregated All-American Girls Pro Baseball League due to the color of her skin. However, a greater opportunity came her way in 1953 when Johnson signed to play ball for the Negro Leagues' Indianapolis Clowns, becoming the first female pitcher to play on a men's professional team. During the three years she pitched for the Clowns, her record was an impressive 33-8. But more importantly, she broke ground for other female athletes and for women everywhere.

Black women are a force in the gymnastics world. But it wasn't until 1992 that Betty Okino and Dominique Dawes became the first Black women to compete in the Olympics for Team USA. Learn about the Black gymnasts and coaches of the past and present who have made historic firsts, including Simone Biles, Sloane Blakely, and Corrinne Tarver. Then discover how Black women in gymnastics are making a difference on and off the mat.

In Sue Bird: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Greatest Point Guards, you'll learn the inspirational story of one of women's basketball's greatest point guards, Sue Bird. Sue Bird has been playing in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) since 2002. She is best known for playing with the Seattle Storm and the only WNBA player to ever win a championship in three different decades. She has won WNBA titles, World Championships, Olympic gold medals, and even a EuroLeague championship.

As a child, Mallory Pugh would do anything she could to watch soccer, practice soccer, and play soccer. She was soccer obsessed! Discover more about Pugh's highlights on the field in this thrilling biography in the Stars of Sports series.

Simone Biles has inspired the world with her incredible gymnastics achievements, including her many Olympic medals. But what is her life like outside of the gym? High-interest details of her exciting life will enthrall listeners.

At 16 years old, Laurie Hernandez has already made many of her dreams come true - and yet it’s only the beginning for this highly accomplished athlete. A Latina Jersey girl, Laurie saw her life take a dramatic turn last summer when she was chosen to be a part of the 2016 US Olympic gymnastics team. After winning gold in Rio as part of the Final Five, Laurie also earned an individual silver medal for her performance on the balance beam.

Travel to Greece and watch Cynisca, a Spartan princess, become the first ever woman to win at the ancient Olympic Games. Or touch the heavens with Junko Tabei as she carves her path through history and mountain ranges with little applause but a lot of bravery. In this book Kate Pankhurst, descendant of Emmeline Pankhurst, tells the fascinating stories of some of history's most talented female sports stars.

In 1967, a 13-year-old girl named Maureen Wilton set the women's world marathon record, running 26.2 miles in 3:15:23. Nicknamed “Little Mo” by her track teammates, Wilton was already a headline-making athlete. But her accomplishment was greeted with controversy and misogynistic accusations of cheating. Wilton receded into the background, left the sport, and kept her achievement secret. This is the story of what happened and how Maureen found her way back to the sport decades later as the mother of a young runner herself.

Wrestlers don’t become superstars overnight. Discover their journey from their start to becoming the WWE's top stars. These books showcase today’s hottest wrestlers and their early years, time in the WWE, and legacy.

In Lisa Leslie: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Greatest Centers, you'll learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's legends, Lisa Leslie. Over the course of her twelve year career, Leslie won two WNBA Championships, two WNBA Finals MVP Awards, three WNBA MVP Awards and was selected to eight All-Star games. These awards, along with many others not mentioned, make her one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time.

In Diana Taurasi: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Greatest Guards, you'll learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's greatest guards, Diana Taurasi. In 2004, Taurasi was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury, where she immediately made her mark as a rookie by winning the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Rookie of the Year Award. Not only did she win that award, but over her career she has also won three WNBA championships, five Olympic gold medals, one WNBA Most Valuable Player Award, and two WNBA Finals MVP Award

In 2021, Simone Biles shocked the world when she pulled out of the Tokyo Olympic Games after experiencing the "twisties" -- a scary feeling during which gymnasts lose control of their bodies while mid-air. Audiences had expected Simone to dominate these games. With seven Olympic medals, twenty-five World Championships medals, and four gymnastic skills named after her, she is considered to be the G.O.A.T. of women’s gymnastics.

Point guard Caitlin Clark took the world of college basketball by storm when she began playing for the University of Iowa in 2020, earning 27 points in her first game alone. By the end of her college career, Caitlin broke the record for total NCAA career-scoring points by scoring 3,951 points over her four years as an Iowa Hawkeye. The high-scoring athlete grabbed the attention of the world—over 14 million viewers tuned in to watch her playoff games in April of 2024.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Ibtihaj Muhammad smashed barriers as the first American to compete wearing hijab, and made history as the first Muslim American woman to medal. Her inspiring journey from a young outsider to an Olympic hero is a relatable, memorable, and uniquely American tale of hard work, determination, and self-reliance.

Megan Rapinoe has been the face of women's soccer since she first stepped onto the international pitch. In addition to winning an Olympic gold medal, two World Cups, and the FIFA player of the year award, she has become a superstar off the field for her advocacy work. For being an outspoken advocate for equal pay for women and LGBTQIA+ rights, Rapinoe earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. This graphic biography shows readers the moments that have defined her life as a soccer player and an activist.

This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great - the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction listeners and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. This volume features Billie Jean King, the world champion tennis player who fought successfully for women's rights.

Serena Williams has been ranked number one in the world for tennis singles, won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, and won four Olympic gold medals. She is a powerful player and a fierce competitor. Learn more about the record-breaking athlete in this comprehensive and action-packed biography.