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WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL TEAMS, LEAGUES AND COMPETITIONS


USA

Though women have been pro athletes in the United States, since the early 1900s, paid teams, leagues and athletes are still uncommon and, as of 2006, paid far less than their male counterparts. For instance, the WNBA had its first season in 1997, 51 years after inception of the men's league in the United States now makes it difficult for the Soccer WNT to find new players who are ready for international competition . A 2004 effort to revive the WUSA was launched. But, no word about progress was available as of December 2005.


China



England

The top competition of ; Bristol City Vs. Bristol Rovers ; Liverpool Vs. Everton ; and Sunderland Vs. Newcastle United )

Similar semi-professionalism examples exist in women's Rugby Union and Cricket . Common to most Europe an sports, Promotion And Relegation is used for the leagues (which the WNBA and WUSA do not have).


Ireland



Denmark

The Danish womens Team Handball league, Toms Ligaen , is all-pro and internationally considered the strongest and most well payed in the world. Leading clubs are GOG , Slagelse , Aalborg DH and Viborg HK .

Danish womens soccer league, Elitedivisionen is semi-professional. Leading clubs are Fortuna Hjørring and HEI.


HISTORY OF WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

Beginning in the late 1960s, a few women gained enough recognition of their athletic talent and social acceptance as role models to earn a living playing sports. Most of these were in the United States. Among them was Joan Weston , a Roller Derby star who was once the highest paid female in sports, but she was the exception rather than the rule.

Things began to change in 1973 when Billy Jean King won "the Battle Of The Sexes " and cracked the Glass Ceiling on pay for female athletes. Other players, like Martina Navratilova , broke through that ceiling, decreasing the gap between women and men athlete's pay on a regular basis rather than occasionally.

Even now, in the 21st century, most professional women athletes around the world receive very little notoriety or pay compared to men. '' Life '' acknowledged the importance of King's achievement in 1990 by naming her one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century."


LIST OF WOMEN'S PRO COMPETITIONS


Football (soccer)



Golf



Basketball



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