The Barnstormers
From the 1930s to the 1980s, women played professional basketball across the United States. But they didn’t play each other—no, instead they toured from small town to big city playing against men and by men’s rules. It was wildly ahead of its time in the 1930s into the 60s and 70s. Culture had an idea of what women should do with their time post-education and being a professional athlete was not it. These women persevered, rose above any criticism they heaped from the public, the news or even their families. And in doing so, they paved the way for women’s professional basketball of today.
They are humble, they are a delight to be around, and they are deserving of having their story told and their legacy revered.
They are the Barnstormers and this is their story.
A new podcast miniseries from She Plays that brings you insight into the lives of the earliest professional female basketball players in the US. The four-part miniseries will air episodes on Sundays starting next week.
Join us for this 4-part miniseries on the trailblazers of women’s professional basketball in the United States! You’ll discover traveling teams like the All American Red Heads, the Southern Belles and the Arkansas Gems who toured the country playing men by men’s rules. Hear about the Chicago Romans who didn’t lose a game in six years and the Philadelphia Tribune Girls that won 11 straight championships. Learn where it all began from some of the players themselves: true legends of the game and pioneers for women and young girls playing today. Narrated by LaChina Robinson, written by Erica L. Ayala and produced by She Plays.
In Episode 4 of The Barnstormers, we look at the impact that the Barnstormers had on women's basketball as a whole in this country, as well as how it helped form professional basketball as we know it today: the WNBA. We speak with some players from the W and hear all about the historic induction of the All-American Red Heads into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
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From the 1930s to the 1980s, women played professional basketball across the United States. But they didn't play each other—no, instead they toured from small town to big city playing against men and by men’s rules. It was wildly ahead of its time in the 1930s into the 60s and 70s. Culture had an idea of what women should do with their time post-education and being a professional athlete was not it. These women persevered, rose above any criticism they heaped from the public, the news, and even their families. In doing so, they paved the way for women’s professional basketball of today.
They are humble, they are a delight to be around, and they are deserving of having their story told and their legacy revered.
They are the Barnstormers, and this is their story.
Thank you for listening. Please support Barnstorming history, the Women's Barnstorming Basketball Players Association, and keep telling their stories!
Check out the WBBPA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WBBPA.inc/ and contact Brenda and the WBBPA team at WBBPA@Outlook.com
To the Barnstormers, we could not be more grateful for all that you've done. You are heroes.
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Narrated by LaChina Robinson.
Written by Erica Ayala.
Interviews done by Ashley Hart of She Plays.
Audio mixing by Danelle Cloutier.
Thank you to the incredible players we were privileged to interview:
Marcia Adams
Jolene Ammons
Jessie Banks
Brenda Moon Davis
Debbie Loftice
Vicky Nelson
Peps Neuman
Dianne Kirkland Warren
Thank you to Tammy Moore Harrison, David Berri, and John Molina for their continued support of women's sports.
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Download our free fantasy sports app that’s exclusively for women’s sports here: www.she-plays.com/fantasy-app
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