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Trailblazer Lynette Woodard: First Woman Globetrotter's Legacy

10/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Lynette Woodard joined the Harlem Globetrotters in 1985 as the first woman on the team.
She was selected from 60 candidates after a competitive tryout.
She was a standout from the University of Kansas and an Olympic gold medalist.
She later returned to the United States as the director of athletics for the Kansas City school system.
Today, five women play for the Harlem Globetrotters, marking progress in women's sports.

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Story summary

Lynette Woodard joined the Harlem Globetrotters in 1985 as the first woman on the team.
She was selected from 60 candidates after a competitive tryout.
She was a standout from the University of Kansas and an Olympic gold medalist.
She later returned to the United States as the director of athletics for the Kansas City school system.
Today, five women play for the Harlem Globetrotters, marking progress in women's sports.