Women's basketball has been growing and changing since the first organized game in the United States was played on March 22, 1893, at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.
It was organized by physical education teacher named Senda Berenson, often called the "Mother of Women's Basketball." The Smith College sophomores beat the freshmen, 5-4. The game was held out of the sight of men, to keep it "proper."
If only Berenson, who learned how to play basketball from James Naismith himself, could see the game she helped grow now. Big crowds, which include men and women, million dollar contracts and superstars like Cheryl Miller, Diana Taurasi, Lisa Leslie and Caitlin Clark. Now, as we near our nation's 250th birthday, we look back at the best U.S. athletes to play this uniquely American sport.
Now through July 4, USA TODAY Sports is releasing our "250 for 250" list of America's top homegrown athletes of all time. Each week we'll bring you all-time standouts from across the sports world, and give readers a chance to vote on who should be featured.
You can also vote in a name that you feel is missing from this list by visiting our interactive poll.
Now, on to the list of our nation's top homegrown women's basketball players:
Learns where these WNBA stars went to high school starting with Cheryl Miller, who attended Riverside Polytechnic High School in Riverside, California. She went on to play college basketball at the University of Southern California.
Sue Bird, Christ the King Regional High School (NY)
Candace Parker, Naperville Central High School (IL)
Caitlin Clark, West Des Moines Dowling High School (IA)
Breanna Stewart, Cicero-North Syracuse High School (NY)
Olympic Legend Ann Meyers Drysdale (R) and daughter Drew / Sonora High School (CA)
1 / 20Who's women's basketball's GOAT? 21 players to debateLearns where these WNBA stars went to high school starting with Cheryl Miller, who attended Riverside Polytechnic High School in Riverside, California. She went on to play college basketball at the University of Southern California.
Learns where these WNBA stars went to high school starting with Cheryl Miller, who attended Riverside Polytechnic High School in Riverside, California. She went on to play college basketball at the University of Southern California.
Sue Bird, Christ the King Regional High School (NY)
Candace Parker, Naperville Central High School (IL)
Caitlin Clark, West Des Moines Dowling High School (IA)
Breanna Stewart, Cicero-North Syracuse High School (NY)
Olympic Legend Ann Meyers Drysdale (R) and daughter Drew / Sonora High School (CA)
Sue Bird’s career and dominance spanned multiple decades, as she's thought of as one of the game's greatest passers. She won three Nancy Lieberman awards as Division I's top point guard and two NCAA titles at UConn. A four-time WNBA champion and 13-time All-Star, Bird finished her career with 3,234 assists − the most in league history. Bird won five Olympic gold medals, five Russian National League titles and five EuroLeague championships during her storied career.