By Levi Perrin
Before the buzzer sounds, before the world takes notice, before history is recorded—Black women have already been there, pushing boundaries, setting records, and changing the rules of the game.
Whether sprinting past limits, scaling mountains, or leading from the sidelines, they have done more than compete. They have transformed.
For generations, Black women in sports have faced obstacles beyond the game itself—disrespect, underinvestment, and outright exclusion. Yet, they have met every challenge with excellence, grace, and an unshakable belief that their place was never up for debate.
She Came First is more than a theme—it’s a reminder that Black women have always been at the forefront of sports, even when the world refused to acknowledge them.
As we mark Women’s History Month, we celebrate athletes, coaches and pioneers who shattered expectations so that the next generation could rise even higher.
The women featured here are history-makers who’ve broken barriers in basketball, track, gymnastics, baseball, racing, and coaching—not just for themselves, but for every young Black girl who dares to dream of stepping onto a court or scaling the highest mountain.
As new generations of sports historymakers rise, one thing remains clear: She came first, but won’t be the last.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley cuts down the net after the Final Four college basketball championship game against Iowa in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. South Carolina won 87-75. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Dawn Staley: The Blueprint for Coaching Greatness
Dawn Staley is more than a coach—she is a force. As the highest-paid coach in women’s college basketball, she has redefined leadership in the sport, proving that success is not just measured in championships but in impact.
A three-time Olympic gold medalist and head coach of the University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team, Staley has built a powerhouse program that dominates on the court and beyond. She is an advocate for equal pay, a mentor for young coaches, and a standard bearer for the respect that Black women in sports have long deserved.
“We deserve this,” Staley said after signing her record-breaking contract, making it clear that her success is not just her own—it’s a step forward for every Black woman who will come after her.
Tara Davis-Woodhall, of the United States, reacts after winning the silver medal in the women’s long jump final during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Tara Davis: Sprinting Towards Greatness
Some athletes don’t just win races—they electrify them. Tara Davis is one of those athletes. A world-class long jumper and sprinter, Davis has captivated audiences with her speed, power, and undeniable joy for the sport.
Her performances are a reminder that track and field isn’t just about raw athleticism—it’s heart, presence, and confidence. Davis moves with energy that young athletes gravitate toward, proving that greatness and individuality can go hand in hand.
Her journey is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: Not merely competing, she owns her space.
Saray Khumalo Standing at the base of Mount Everest
Sophia Danenberg on Mount Everest
Scaling New Heights: Saray Khumalo and Sophia Danenberg
For many, reaching the top of the world is only a dream. For Saray Khumalo and Sophia Danenberg, it became reality. These two incredible climbers have conquered Mount Everest, proving that Black women belong in every arena—including the highest peaks on Earth.
Khumalo, a South African adventurer, became the first Black African woman to summit Everest in 2019. She has since dedicated herself to opening doors for others, using her platform to fund education initiatives across Africa.
Danenberg made history in 2006 as the first Black woman to reach the summit of Everest, pushing past extreme conditions, frostbite, and the weight of being one of the few Black climbers in the sport.
Their achievements serve as powerful reminders: there is no space too high, no challenge too great, for Black women.
Philadelphia’s Mo’ne Davis delivers in the fifth inning against Tennessee during a baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File
Mo’ne Davis: A League of Her Own
In 2014, Mo’ne Davis did something no girl had ever done before—she pitched a shutout in the Little League World Series. At just 13 years old, she became a national sensation, proving that girls, and especially Black girls, belong on the baseball field.
Davis commandingly changed the conversation. Her presence on the mound forced the world to reconsider who gets to play, who gets to lead, and who gets to shine.
Though she has since moved on to basketball, her legacy in baseball shines. She opened the door for girls in sports, reminding them that they don’t have to wait for permission to take the field.
American sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner winning the 100 meters at the Seoul 1988 Olympics.
Florence Griffith Joyner: The Epitome of Speed and Style
Some records are meant to be broken. Others stand the test of time.
With her passing at 38 in 1998, Florence “Flo Jo” Griffith Joyner still holds the fastest times ever recorded in the 100m and 200m sprints. Her dominance on the track was unmatched, but her impact went beyond sheer speed. With her signature one-legged racing suits, bold colors, and perfectly manicured nails, Flo Jo redefined what it meant to be an athlete.
She was not just a sprinter—she was a spectacle, an artist in motion. Her legacy is still seen today in athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson, who channel her unapologetic confidence and flair.
Flo Jo didn’t just win. She made sure the world never forgot how she did it.
Dianne Durham at 1983 national championships
Dianne Durham: Gymnastics’ First Black Champion
Before Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas, there was Dianne Durham. In 1983, she became the first Black woman to win a U.S. national gymnastics title, breaking barriers in a sport that had long excluded Black athletes.
Durham’s path was not easy. She faced discrimination and was often overlooked despite her undeniable talent. But she refused to be erased. Her victory cleared the path for gymnasts who came after her, proving that Black girls belonged on the mat—and at the top of the podium.
Relatively a hidden figure compared to those who followed, her impact is undeniable. Without Dianne Durham, gymnastics history would look very different.
WNBA star Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky during a game against the Indiana Fever, 2024.
Angel Reese: Unapologetically Dominant
Angel Reese doesn’t just play basketball—she owns the court.
A star forward for LSU, Reese has become one of the most talked-about players in college basketball,skills matched by confidence. She defies criticism of her swagger and refusal to fit into outdated expectations of how a Black woman athlete should behave.
And she continues to win.
“I’m unapologetically me,” Reese affirms. Her presence in the game is about talented basketball and demanding the respect that Black women athletes have been denied for too long.
(L-R) Tia Norfleet and Brehanna Daniels at Glammed out Auto Clinic(Photo Credit: Steve Baffo)
Breaking Barriers in NASCAR: Tia Norfleet and Brehanna Daniels
Motorsports is one of the last frontiers for Black women in sports—but Tia Norfleet and Brehanna Daniels are changing that.
Norfleet, the first Black woman licensed by NASCAR, has fought to carve out space in a sport that has historically been unwelcoming. Daniels, as the first Black woman on a NASCAR pit crew, is proving that Black women don’t just belong in the driver’s seat.They can excel in every role that makes racing possible.
Their presence, a challenge to the status quo, is a declaration that no sport is off-limits.
Autumn Lockwood via Twitter
Autumn Lockwood: Coaching at the Highest Level
The sidelines have long been a place of power—but not always for Black women. Autumn Lockwood is changing that.
The assistant performance coach for the Philadelphia Eagles made history as the first Black woman to coach in a Super Bowl. Her role goes beyond game day. She helps athletes build the strength, endurance, and resilience needed to compete at the highest level.
In a field where Black women are still vastly underrepresented, Lockwood’s ascendancy is a step forward, proving that leadership in sports reverberates beyond the field.It happens in the preparation,the strategy and the details that make champions out of players.
