1881–1890 1885 Formation of the Association for the Advancement of Physical Education
1891–1900 1891 James Naismith, born in Almonte, Ontario, invents basketball while teaching at a school now known as Springfield College
1892 Senda Berenson reads about Dr. Naismith's new game, and with modified rules, introduces the game to Smith College students. First inter-institutional game between the University of California, Berkeley and Miss Head's School.
1893 Clara Gregory Baer introduces (as it was written at the time) to Sophie Newcomb College (now part of Tulane University)
1894 RULE Change—Dribbling and guarding another player prohibited
1895 Clara Gregory Baer writes the first book of rules for women's basketball. The first public women's basketball game in the South is played at a men's only club, the Southern Athletic Club.
1896 First intercollegiate contest between the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford was held on April 4, 1896. Stanford won, 2–1.
1897 First recorded women's basketball game in Australia, played in Victoria, using wet paper bags for baskets. First women's high school game between Austin High and Oak Park. Won by Austin 16–4.
1899 Senda Berenson publishes the first issue of Basketball Guide for Women, which she would edit and update for eighteen years. These rules, with minor modifications, would remain in use until the 1960s. Stanford abolishes intercollegiate competition of women. (The players formed an independent club team).
1901–1910 1904 Stanford rescinds the prohibition against intercollegiate competition of women. 1906
Women's basketball featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post
1911–1920 1913 RULE Change—A single dribble is permitted as long as it bounces knee-high
1914 RULE Change—Half-court play is allowed.
1915 The Edmonton Grads, then known as the Commercial High School basketball team, won the Intercollegiate Basketball League. They would go on to play as the Grads, with a record of 502–20 between 1915 and 1940. James Naismith would go on to refer to them as "the finest basketball team that ever stepped out on a floor".
1916 RULE Change—Coaching from sidelines prohibited during game, except for halftime
1918 RULE Change—The bottom of the basket is removed. Substitutes allowed for first time (but cannot re-enter game). The bounce pass is allowed
1921–1930 1921 Basketball played for perhaps the first time in Europe at the 1921 Women's Olympiad 1926 The Amateur Athletic Union sponsored the first-ever American national women's basketball championship.
1927 RULE Change—Players must wear a number on the back
1931–1940 1932 RULE Change—guarding another player first allowed FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, is formed in Geneva.
1936
RULE Change—the first time a guard, called a "rover" was allowed to play the entire court The All American Red Heads Team a barnstorming professional team was formed. They were the first professional women's basketball team. They would go on to tour the country for 50 years, playing men's teams using men's rules.
1938 RULE Change—The court is now divided into two sections, rather than three. Team size remains six players each.
1941–1950 1947 RULE Change—Players must wear a number on the front and the back 1949 Hazel Walker became the first woman to own a professional basketball team, the Arkansas Travelers. RULE Change—Players now allowed a two-bounce dribble. (Continuous dribble used in experimental season, but not adopted)
1951–1960 1951 RULE Change—Coaching from sidelines during time outs permitted
1953 First FIBA World Championship for Women Gold—USA Silver—Chile Bronze—France
1955 Missouri (Arledge) Morris—named an All-American, the first black AAU All-American RULE Change—Three second rule implemented. Players in the offensive lane may not hold the ball for more than three seconds.
1957 FIBA World Championship for Women Gold—USA Silver—Soviet Union Bronze—Czechoslovakia
1958 Wayland Baptist won 131 consecutive games, a streak that extends from 1954 to 1958.
1959 FIBA World Championship for Women Gold—Soviet Union Silver—Bulgaria Bronze—Czechoslovakia
1961–1970 1962 First women officials in AAU national tournament—Fran Koening and Carol Walter RULE Change—Two "rovers" allowed (players permitted to run the entire court)
1964 FIBA World Championship for Women Gold—Soviet Union Silver—Czechoslovakia Bronze—Bulgaria
1966 RULE Change—Continuous dribble allowed
1967 FIBA World Championship for Women Gold—Soviet Union Silver—Korea Bronze—Czechoslovakia
1968 RULE Change—Coaching from sidelines during game permitted
1969
Carol Eckman forms the first National Invitational Women's Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament Nera White is named an AAU All-American for the 15th consecutive year. West Chester (Pennsylvania) defeated Western Carolina 65–39 in the CIAW invitational tournament
1970 Cal State-Fullerton defeated West Chester 50–46 in the CIAW invitational tournament
1971–1980 1971 FIBA World Championship for Women Gold—Soviet Union Silver—Czechoslovakia Bronze—Brazil
RULE Change—Full court, five player game instituted for first time for collegiate and AAU games. A thirty-second shot clock was also implemented. The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) formed to govern collegiate women's athletics in the United States and to administer national championships. The transition from the CIAW to the AIAW covered a ten-month period starting in April 1971. Mississippi State College for Women defeated West Chester 57–55 in the CIAW invitational tournament
1972 Title IX signed into law June 23, 1972. UBC Thunderbirds won the inaugural Bronze Baby, awarded to the winner of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU; now U Sports) women's basketball tournament. Immaculata (Pennsylvania) defeated West Chester 52–48 in the DGWS invitational tournament
1973 First (partial) scholarships offered to female students UBC Thunderbirds won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the CIAU winner in women's basketball Immaculata defeated Queens (New York) 59–52 in the AIAW invitational tournament
1974 First full scholarship offered. The recipient was Ann Meyers who attended UCLA UBC Thunderbirds won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the CIAU winner in women's basketball Immaculata defeated Mississippi State College for Women 68–53 in the AIAW invitational tournament
1975 The first nationally televised game is played by Maryland and Immaculata. Some sources report that Immaculata won 80–48, while others report 85–63. First Kodak All-American team is named. FIBA World Championship for Women Gold—Soviet Union Silver—Japan Bronze—Czechoslovakia
Laurentian Lady Vees won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the CIAU winner in women's basketball Delta State (Mississippi) defeated Immaculata 90–81 in the AIAW large college invitational tournament Phillips University (Oklahoma) won the AIAW Division II invitational tournament
1976 First Olympic competition for women Gold—Soviet Union Silver—USA Bronze—Bulgaria
Laurentian Lady Vees won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the CIAU winner in women's basketball Delta State defeated Immaculata 69–64 in the AIAW large college invitational tournament Berry College (Georgia) won the AIAW Division II invitational tournament
1977 Parade Magazine names its first high school All-American team for girls' basketball. The first team includes future Women's Basketball Hall of Fame members Denise Curry, Cindy Noble and Lynette Woodard. First Broderick Cup awarded to "the best athlete in each sport". The first recipient was Lusia Harris. Laurentian Lady Vees won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the CIAU winner in women's basketball Delta State defeated LSU 68–55 in the AIAW large college invitational tournament Southeastern Louisiana won the AIAW Division II invitational tournament
1978 The Women's Professional Basketball League formed, the first professional women's basketball league in the United States. It lasted until 1981. First Wade Trophy awarded to the best women's basketball player in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I competition The first recipient was Carol Blazejowski. Laurentian Lady Vees won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the CIAU winner in women's basketball UCLA defeated Maryland 90–74 in the AIAW large college invitational tournament High Point (North Carolina) won the AIAW Division II invitational tournament
1979 FIBA World Championship for Women Gold—USA Silver—Korea Bronze—Canada
Laurentian Lady Vees won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS; now U Sports) winner in women's basketball Old Dominion defeated Louisiana Tech 75–65 in the AIAW large college invitational tournament South Carolina State won the AIAW Division II invitational tournament
1980 Olympic competition for women Gold—Soviet Union Silver—Bulgaria Bronze—Yugoslavia
Victoria Vikes won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the CIS winner in women's basketball Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) established, with responsibility for eight sports including basketball Old Dominion defeated Tennessee 68–53 in the AIAW Division I invitational tournament University of Dayton won the AIAW Division II invitational tournament Worcester State College (Massachusetts) won the AIAW Division III invitational tournament
1981–1990 1981 The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels, is formed. Victoria Vikes won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport winner in women's basketball Louisiana Tech defeated Tennessee 79–59 in the AIAW Division I invitational tournament William Penn College (Iowa) won the AIAW Division II invitational tournament Wisconsin–La Crosse won the AIAW Division III invitational tournament Inaugural season of the Australian Women's National Basketball LeagueWomen's National Basketball League (Australia). National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2012-11-17 St Kilda Saints won the Australian Women's National Basketball League Championship
1982
Louisiana Tech (35–1) won the first NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Cal Poly Pomona (29-7) won the first NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship Elizabethtown (26-1) won the first NCAA Women's Division III Basketball Championship Victoria Vikes won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport winner in women's basketball Rutgers defeated Texas 83–77 in the final AIAW Division I invitational tournament Francis Marion College (South Carolina) won the AIAW Division II invitational tournament Concordia College (Minnesota) won the AIAW Division III invitational tournament St Kilda Saints won the Australian Women's National Basketball League Championship
1983 USC (31–2) won the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Virginia Union (27-2) won the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship North Central (Ill.) (26-6) won the NCAA Women's Division III Basketball Championship Bishop's Gaiters won the Bronze Baby, awarded to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport winner in women's basketball Nunawading Spectres won the Australian Women's National Basketball League Championship FIBA World Championship for Women Gold—Soviet Union Silver—USA Bronze—Chile
1984 RULE Change—The ball circumference for NCAA play is reduced by one inch (to 28.5–29 inches) compared to the ball used previously, and used by men. This size ball is also called size 6. Olympic competition for women Gold—USA Silver—Korea Bronze—China
West Virginia's Georgeann Wells became the first woman to register a dunk in an official NCAA intercollegiate basketball game. USC (29–4) won the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Central Missouri (27-5) won the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship