Senda Berenson: The Unlikely Founder of Women's Basketball

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Set against the backdrop of 1892, a young instructor at Smith College introduced a modified version of basketball that became a monumental success among women's schools. Senda Berenson, a Jewish immigrant, inadvertently transformed women's athletics by establishing gender-specific rules that emphasized teamwork. Her approach aimed to foster physical courage and social equality, resonating with progressive reformers of her time. Berenson's vision intertwined athletics with art, promoting joyful participation in sports as a means of personal and societal growth.