March is the month of women’s history and South Carolina has been home to many amazing + talented women over the years, including women athletes.
In celebration, we bring together some of the most notable in the state female athletes (past + present) and your achievements.
🏀 A’ja Wilson | Basketball player
○ This Hopkins, SC native is a basketball legend. This year she was honored with a statue outside the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia for her excellent career in college basketball that took the UofSC Gamecocks to earn your first national NCAA women’s basketball championship in 2017. Some of his praises in basketball include being a Three times All-American in the UofSC + National Player of the Year consensus in 2018. Wilson was the first national player of the year and Choice of the WNBA draft # 1 in 2018. She currently plays for the WNBA for Las Vegas Aces.
🏈📣 Armani Latimer | NFL Cheerleader
○ Latimer recently, a Native Anderson + University of South Carolina graduate, joined the Dallas Cowboys Cheer Team, which is known for being the NFL’s most famous + highly coveted cheer squad (there is even a reality show about this). In college, she was a member of Carolina dance team. For the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading team, she was selected as a newbie from 1,500 candidates who sent audition tapes, in a highly competitive and selective process.
👟 Paris A., Peyton H., Madison R. + Olivia T. | Athletics
○ Excellence can be achieved at any age. In 2020, Paris Asmond, Peyton Hightower, Madison Ross, and Olivia Taylor in Richland School District Two become the Younger girls in the state win a national athletics title. The group of sixth + seventh year who are members of Team Blaze Track Club of Columbia competed in Florida and was placed third in the 4 × 100 meters and first in the 4 × 400 meter relay, that earned them the title of All Americans + National champions.
⛳ Natalie Srinivasan | Golf player
○ This talented golfer from Spartanburg is now considered a legend of the recent sport of Furman University in Greenville. Last year, Srinivasan graduated and his accomplishments included leading the entire Division I with three wins in one season + being honored with the Annika Award, which is awarded to the female golf player of the first division, voted by players, coaches and the media. Among many accolades, some of his prizes include being named the PING 2020 Female Golf Coaches Association National Player of the Year and winner of the inaugural Juli Inkster Senior Award.
🥎 Jordan Trgovac | Softball player
○ This ex College of Charleston softball player, who played as a outfielder, has a Super Bowl Ring, which she won as part of the service team for the Kansas City Chiefs. What it looks like almost unbelievable but definitely worth celebrating, This is her father also won a Super Bowl ring as a assistant coach how Green Bay Packers in 2011. Talk about a father and daughter duo in the Super Bowl ring.
🎾 Shelby Rogers | Tennis player
○ This tennis player from Mount Pleasant won the Women’s National Championship at the age of 17 years. French Open 2016 + o 2020 US Open she reached the quarterfinals. Rogers won six singles titles + two double titles at the Iinternational tennis federation (ITF) Circuit.
⛳ Jayne Pardus | Golf player
○ In 2020, it is Mount Pleasant the golfer won the Carolinas Golf Association + South Carolina Golf Association Women’s Senior Player of the Year awards. Some (but not all) of your compliments include Top senior amateur at SC Women’s Open, South Carolina Women’s Golf Association (WSCGA) Senior Championship winner (two consecutive years), and WSCGA State Amateur State Division winner.
🏀 Dawn Staley | Basketball player + coach
○ How one of the most decorated players in the history of American women’s basketball, Dawn Staley is currently the head coach for the women’s basketball team in the University of South Carolina. She led the team to four consecutive SEC tournament titles + trained the 2018 WNBA No. 1 Draft to choose A’ja Wilson. Staley was introduced to the The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of Class of 2013.
🏅 Sandi Morris | Support for pole vault registration
○ Created on Greenville, Sandi Morris became The American pole vault record holder. She studied at Greenville Senior High School and became one of America’s most recruited pole vaulters. She has I won the silver medal iin the pole vault event at 2016 Olympic Games, a silver in the pole vault event at the World Athletics Championship 2017 + in 2018 she won gold in the indoor world championship.
⛳ Bete daniel | Golf player
○ Born + raised in Charleston, Beth Daniel is one of only three of Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) players to win “Recruit of the Year” and then “Player of the year“back to back. Daniel won one main championship + 32 additional wins on the LPGA tour. It was introduced in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978 and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.
🏀 Katrina McClain Johnson | Basketball player
○ Born in Charleston, Katrina McClain is another highly decorated professional basketball player in American history. The now retired player is a twice Olympic gold medalist + helped the University of Georgia to a 116-15 record 1984-1987. McClain was selected as US Female Athlete of the Year for Basketball in 1988 and 1992. It was introduced in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of Class of 2006.
🎾 Althea Gibson | Tennis player + golfer
○ Born in the countryside Clarendon County, Althea Gibson was one of the first black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis. Despite facing racial discrimination, Gibson was the first colored person to win a Grand Slam title in tennis in 1956. Throughout her career, she was a repeated winner at Wimbledon singles and doubles, as well as in US Nationals in singles. Gibson was also interested in play golf and has became the first African American to compete in the professional women’s golf tournament in 1960. In 1994, she became the first black person win one Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) card. It was introduced in the International Tennis Hall of Fame as a member of Class of 1971.