Lucy Bledsoe: A Basketball Pioneer and Valkyries Enthusiast

Back in the 1970s, Lucy Bledsoe was just a high schooler with a dream and no girls' basketball team to join.

Recalling her youth, Bledsoe notes, "Growing up, my brothers were my basketball mentors. My brother especially invested time in teaching me everything from shooting to layups, yet there was no school team for me to play on, which was always a big letdown."

As there was no basketball option, tennis became her fallback, but basketball remained her true passion.

Everything changed when feminist icon Gloria Steinem visited.

Bledsoe discovered something monumental: "I learned about Title IX, a law enacted just two years prior that entitled me to a school basketball team."

This revelation propelled Bledsoe to action, advocating for a women's basketball team at her school.

Determined, she and her peers petitioned the local school board and even approached the Oregon state legislature to ensure compliance with Title IX.

Initially, she expected the task to be straightforward, but opposition soon emerged.

Bledsoe recounted a tense encounter: "The boys' basketball coach confronted me aggressively, warning me to stay quiet or face consequences."

Undeterred, Bledsoe succeeded in forming a team by her senior year, which not only played but won the state championship—a fairy-tale ending.

"It was a thrilling story with the perfect ending," she reflected with pride.

Bledsoe's journey continued as she moved to the Bay Area for college, eventually settling there and becoming a writer. Her high school experiences inspired one of her novels.

"The process of writing made me realize the gravity of my experiences as a teenager," she shared.

As she traveled across the United States sharing her story, Bledsoe found joy in the progression of women's basketball.

"I'm a big fan of the WNBA and cherish the unique aspects of women's basketball," she enthusiastically expressed.

Now, like so many in the Bay Area, Bledsoe is devoted to the Golden State Valkyries.

She's thrilled by the community's support for the team and feels gratified knowing her efforts contributed to the advancement of female athletes.

Bledsoe concluded with optimism, "We've made great strides, but there's still progress to be made, and we're on the right path."