The Sternberg Women's Board-a-Match Teams bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) North American Bridge Championship (NABC) and is a four session board-a-match event, two qualifying sessions and two final sessions. The event typically starts on the first Sunday of the NABC and is restricted to female players.

History

The event was introduced in 1933 and was originally held at the winter NABC (there were only two NABCs - summer and winter). The original trophy was donated by George Coffin. Page 78. In 1963, it was moved to the spring NABC. In 1976, the board-a-match format was changed to a knock-out format. The board-a-match format was re-introduced in 1986. The event is now held at the fall NABCs.

Dr. Jim Sternberg donated the current trophy in 2001 in memory of his wife, Marsha May Sternberg, who died in 2001 after a six-week battle with cancer.

Winners

Five champion teams defended their titles without any change in team personnel, on seven occasions: 1936, 1944–1946, 1961, 1975, and 2010. The four-time winners from 1943 to 1946 were Emily Folline, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young. Folline and Sobel had been runners-up in 1942; Sobel also in 1941.

The 1974–75 champions were the last for the board-a-match tournament as the premier championship for women teams. They won the premier championship again in 1976, its first under knockout conditions. (See Wagar Women's Knockout Teams, for the Wagar Trophy that is named for one of the four-time board-a-match winners.)

+ Women's Board-a-Match Teams, 1933 to present Year Winners Runners-up 1933Winners from 1933 to 2007, , Pages 8-9. Mrs. Greene Fenley Jr., Mrs. Richard Field, Mrs. John W. Friedlander, Jane Wallace Mollie Funk, Ethel Gardner, Marguerite Hoffmeier, Marie White 1934 Gail Hamilton, Marguerite Hoffmeier, Helen Pendelton Rockwell, Anne Rosenfeld Elizabeth Banfield, Phyllis Gardner, Eva Gross, Dorothy Roberts 1935 Doris Fuller, Angela Quigley, Florence Stratford, Helen White Gail Hamilton, Marguerite Hoffmeier, Helen Pendelton Rockwell, Anne Rosenfeld 1936 Doris Fuller, Angela Quigley, Florence Stratford, Helen White Marge Anderson, Mrs. J. A. Faulkner, Marjorie Haldeman, Mrs. G. Keedick 1937 Martha Lemon, Mrs. A. Philip Stockvis, Mrs. Martin West, Sally Young Doris Fuller, Angela Quigley, Helen Sobel, Florence Stratford 1938 Mrs. Galloway Morris, Lillian Peck, Olive Peterson, Mrs. Donald B. Tansill Mariquita Fullerton, Mollie Funk, Ann Rosenfeld, Lucille Schwarz 1939 Mable Ervin, Doris Fuller, Helen Mitchell, Helen Sobel, Sally Young Sylvia DeYoung, Margaret Katzen, Catherine W. Samberg, Florence Stratford 1940 Helen Levy, Adelaide Neuwirth, Margaret Wagar, Lottie Zetosch Ruth Horn, Olga Hilliard, Marguerite McKenney, Gussie Planco 1941 Inez Buchannan, Mae Dickens, Mabel Scott, Linda Terry Doris Fuller, Mrs. Joseph M. Rothschild, Helen Sobel, Sally Young 1942 Peggy Golder, Olga Hilliard, Olive Peterson, Ruth Sherman Emily Folline, Doris Fuller, Ethel Gardner, Helen Sobel 1943 Emily Folline, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young Eleanor Hirsch, Evelyn Lebhar, Marguerite McKenney, Florence Stratford 1944 Emily Folline, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young Mrs. M. Godfrey, Mrs. C. W. Neeld, Dorothy Sullivan, Anne H. Todd 1945 Emily Folline, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young Josephine Gutman, Gratian Goldstein, Marjorie Perlmutter, Gretchen Schildmiller 1946 Emily Folline, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young Paula Bacher, Marie Basher, Jane Jaeger, Pauline Schmuckler 1947 1/2. Marge Anderson, Ruby Lyons, Mimi Roncarelli, Jane Wallace 1/2. Cass Illig, Frances Robinson, Alma Stewart, Carolyn Sondheim 1948 Ruth Gordon, Gratian Goldstein, Josephine Gutman, Charlotte Sidway Ruth Gilbert, Olive Peterson, Edith Seligman, Ruth Sherman, Peggy Solomon 1949 1/2. Hortense Evans, Frances Robinson, Mrs. Henry Sabatt, Carolyn Sondheim 1/2. Marianne Boschan, Catherine Cotter, Gertrude Eberson, Katherine McNutt 1950 Marge Anderson, Mary Bowden, Ruth Gordon, G. Eloise Neil 2/5. Olive Peterson, Ruth Sherman, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar 2/5. Shirley Fairchild, Mrs. Ezra Feldman, Rose Groves, Luise Mathews, Claire Meyer 2/5. Margaret Byrd, Isabelle Garn, Virginia Ploehn, Billy Traveletti 2/5. Inez Buchanan, Zodie Glover, Sally Herman, Mabel Scott 1951 Paula Bacher, Anne Burnstein, Dolly Rosenfeld, Edith Seligman, Sally Young Thelma Hathorn, Mollie Steiner, Agatha Tiernan, Clara Tiernan, Mary Elizabeth Tiernan 1952 Jackie Begin, Sally Herman, Jessie S. Moore, Norma Matz 2/3. Peggy Adams, Helen Baker, Marguerite Harris, Ethel Keohane 2/3. Kay Rhodes, Ruth Sherman, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar 1953 Gretchen Feldstein, Vera Glick, Gratian Goldstein, Lucille Schwarz 2/3. Mary Jane Kauder, Kay Rhodes, Ruth Sherman, Margaret Wagar 2/3. Elaine Lee, Olive Peterson, Roberta Sheronas, Peggy Solomon 1954 Wynne Ecker, Doris Fuller, Marguerite Harris, Norma Matz 2/5. Marguerite Bouldin, Lillian Hassler, Ann Jervis, Dorothy Payne 2/5. Marie Cohn, Olive Peterson, Pauline Schmuckler, Peggy Solomon 2/5. Kay Rhodes, Ruth Sherman, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar 2/5. Margaret Alcorn, Louise Eisenman, Emily Folline, Sue Reith 1955 Peggy Adams, Carlyn Brall, Louise Eisenman, Shirley Johnson, Juanita Strich 2/4. Kay Rhodes, Ruth Sherman, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar 2/4. Anne Burnstein, Edith Kemp, Paula Levin, Ruth Steinberg, Sally Young 2/4. Ruth Gordon, Josephine Gutman, Evelyn Engleman, Margaret Katzen, G. Eloise Neil 1956 Peggy Rotzell, Jan Stone, Charlotte Sidway, Mary Elizabeth Tiernan Kay Rhodes, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young 1957 Marie Cohn, Mary Jane Kauder, Stella Rebner, Peggy Solomon Agnes Gordon, Kay Rhodes, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar 1958 Carlyn Brall, Bee Gale, Sally Johnson, Peggy Rotzell Kay Rhodes, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young 1959 Margaret Alcorn, Lee Kasle, Josephine Sharp, Adaline Simon, Garner McDaniel Kay Dunn, Jane Herb, Malvine Klausner, Helen Portugal, Rose Reif 1960 Roberta Erde, Sally Johnson, Barbara Kachmar, Bee Schenken Joan Remey, Helen Shanbrom, Sylvia Stein, Marge Stone 1961 Roberta Erde, Sally Johnson, Barbara Kachmar, Bee Schenken Mary Jane Farell, Terry Michaels, Peggy Solomon, Jan Stone 1962 Anne Burnstein, Edith Kemp, Alicia Kempner, Stella Rebner, Teddie Warner Muriel Kaplan, Terry Michaels, Garner McDaniel, Jan Stone 1963 Pat Adler, Terry Michaels, Garner McDaniel, Carol Sanders, Sylvia Stein Dorothy Hayden, Barbara Kachmar, Agnes Gordon, Helen Portugal, Margaret Wagar 1964 Hermine Baron, Mary Jane Farell, Peggy Solomon, Bee Schenken Agnes Gordon, Dorothy Hayden, Helen Portugal, Margaret Wagar 1965 Virginia Heckel, Betty Kaplan, Edith Kemp, Jacqui Mitchell Debbie Polak, Joan Remey, Carol Ruther, Sylvia Stein 1966 1/2. Freida Arst, June Deutsch, Sylvia Stein, Carol Stoklin 1/2. Nancy Gruver, Garner McDaniel, Terry Michaels, Sue Sachs 1967 Dorothy Hayden, Emma Jean Hawes, Agnes Gordon, Margaret Wagar 2/3. Hermine Baron, Mary Jane Farell, Bee Schenken, Peggy Solomon 2/3. Dolores Bick, Jude Ballard, Ruth Needham, Viola Kirkwood 1968 Hermine Baron, Mary Jane Farell, Sally Johnson, Bee Schenken, Peggy Solomon, Rhoda Walsh Jean Frankel, Teddy O.Brien, Mary Beth Townsend, Esta Van Zandt 1969 Karen Allison, Virginia Heckel, Edith Kemp, Alicia Kempner, Helen Portugal, Jan Stone Nancy Gruver, Barbara Rappaport, Sue Sachs, Barbara Tepper 1970 Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Dorothy Hayden, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Peggy Solomon Dorothy Cowger, Diane Hawes, Florence Van Winkle, Freda Van Cleve 1971 Judi Friedenberg, Gail Moss, Marietta Passell, Helen Utegaard, Kathie Wei Roberta Epstein, Gretchen Goldstein, Edith Kemp, Barbara Rappaport, Sylvia Stein 1972 Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Dorothy Hayden, Sue Picus Frieda Arst, June Deutsch, Eunice Rosen, Carol Stoklin 1973 Nancy Gruver, Terry Michaels, Jo Morse, Helen Utegaard 2/4. Nancy Alpaugh, Fran Beard, Heitie Noland, Betsey Wolff, Esta Van Zandt 2/4. Mary Jane Farell, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Marietta Passell, Kathie Wei 2/4. Jean Christopher, Muriel Peterson, Beverly Rosenberg, Elaine Sternberg 1974 Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Dorothy Truscott Hermine Baron, Carol Greenhut, Trudi Nugit, Kerri Shuman 1975   Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Dorothy Truscott   Anita Davis, Mildred Freedman, Robin Grantham, Carol Klar After 1975 the premier event for women teams was changed from board-a-match to knockout format, as the Wagar Women's Knockout Teams—and the 1974–75 champions won again in 1976. After ten years a board-a-match for women was restored. (The parallel board-a-match for men continued without break until its conversion to open in 1990. See Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams.) 1986 Lisa Berkowitz, Dorothy Truscott, Joyce Lilie, Jan Martel 2/4. Eunice Portnoy, Halina Jamner, Genevieve Geiger, Madelynn Treitel 2/4. Kathie Wei, Judi Radin, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Greenberg, Carol Sanders, Betty Ann Kennedy 2/4. Rozanne Pollack, Roberta Epstein, Judy Tucker, Stasha Cohen, Sue Picus, Karen Allison 1987 Shirley Edelson, Donna Bailey, Lynn Blumenthal, Janice Randles 2/3. Rozanne Pollack, Randi Montin, Stasha Cohen, Pam Wittes, Judy Tucker 2/3. Lynne Feldman, Ellasue Chaitt, Sharon Osberg, Judi Cody 1988 Lynne Feldman, Rozanne Pollack, Lisa Berkowitz, Sharon Osberg 2/3. Mary Jane Farell, Roberta Epstein, Dorothy Truscott, Gail Greenberg, Kitty Bethe, Susan Green 2/3. Elspeth Moore, Andy O. Grady, Nancy Passell, Nell Cahn 1989 Lynne Schaefer, Suzy Burger, Petra Hamman, Joan Jackson Beverly Rosenberg, Linda Lewis, Mary Hardy, Carol Pincus 1990 1/2. Jacqui Mitchell, Amalya Kearse, Joyce Lilie, Nancy Alpaugh, Pamela Granovetter, Jo Morse 1/2. Judy Randel, Sally Woolsey, Broma Lou Reed, Marcia Masterson 1991 Juanita Chambers, Cheri Bjerkan, Jill Meyers, Kay Schulle Kathie Wei, Helen Utegaard, Betty Ann Kennedy, Carol Sanders, Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer 1992 Kathie Wei, Helen Utegaard, Betty Ann Kennedy, Carol Sanders, Beth Palmer, Lynn Deas Sally Woolsey, Karen Singer, Dori Cohen, Karen Allison 1993 Juanita Chambers, Jan Cohen, Margie Gwozdzinsky, GerriAnne Klafter, Shawn Womack Sharon Colson, Judy Pede, Jean Anderson, Carreen Hinds 1994 Dorothy Truscott, Hjördis Eythorsdottir, Mildred Breed, Tobi Deutsch June Deutsch, Beverly Rosenberg, Carol Pincus, Lynne Feldman 1995 Kathie Wei-Sender, Sue Sachs, Carol Sanders, Betty Ann Kennedy, Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer Judi Radin, Jacqui Mitchell, Lynn Tarnopol, Rhoda Kratenstein 1996 Sherie Greenberg, Jyme Schmieder, Fran Dickman, Diane Shannon Joann Glasson, JoAnn Sprung, Sue Picus, JoAnna Stansby 1997 Sue Picus, Connie Goldberg, Rozanne Pollack, Lisa Berkowitz Tobi Sokolow, Mildred Breed, Shawn Quinn, Renee Mancuso 1998 Judi Radin, Sylvia Moss, Mildred Breed, Shawn Quinn, Petra Hamman, Peggy Sutherlin Margie Gwozdzinsky, Linda Lewis, Karen Barrett, Susan Wexler 1999 Lynn Baker, Tobi Sokolow, Karen McCallum, Jill Meyers, Randi Montin, Janice Seamon-Molson Susan Miller, Jo Morse, Barbara Sion, Suzy Burger 2000 Petra Hamman, Peggy Sutherlin, Joan Jackson, Robin Klar, Shawn Quinn, Mildred Breed Hjördis Eythorsdottir, Carol Sanders, Libby Fernandez, Judy Wadas, Valerie Westheimer 2001 Valerie Westheimer, Hjördis Eythorsdottir, Carol Simon, Rozanne Pollack Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer, Jill Meyers, Irina Levitina, Randi Montin, Kerri Sanborn 2002 Valerie Westheimer, Hjördis Eythorsdottir, Judi Radin, Mildred Breed, Shawn Quinn   Lynn Baker, Debbie Rosenberg, Karen McCallum, Kerri Sanborn, Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken   2003 Carlyn Steiner, Marinesa Letizia, Jill Meyers, Randi Montin, Janice Seamon-Molson, Tobi Sokolow Valerie Westheimer, Judi Radin, Mildred Breed, Shawn Quinn 2004