Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

" The embrace of women's sports sometimes feels almost like a political act...Molly Schiot's Game Changers: The Unsung Heroines of Sports History is so valuable. " -- The Wall Street Journal

"A thoughtful, exhaustively researched, and long-overdue tribute to the women who have paved the way for the likes of Serena Williams, Abby Wambach, Simone Biles, and more." --espnW

Based on the Instagram account @TheUnsungHeroines, a celebration of the pioneering, forgotten female athletes of the twentieth century that features rarely seen photos and new interviews with past and present game changers including Abby Wambach and Cari Champion.

Two years ago, filmmaker Molly Schiot began the Instagram account @TheUnsungHeroines, posting a photo each day of a female athlete who had changed the face of sports around the globe in the pre-Title IX age. These women paved the way for Serena Williams, Carli Lloyd, and Lindsey Vonn, yet few today know who they are. Slowly but surely, the account gained a following, and the result is Game Changers , a beautifully illustrated collection of these trailblazers' rarely-before-seen photos and stories.

Featuring icons Althea Gibson and Wyomia Tyus, complete unknowns Trudy Beck and Conchita Cintron, policymaker Margaret Dunkle, sportswriter Lisa Olson, and many more, Game Changers gives these "founding mothers" the attention and recognition they deserve, and features critical conversations between past and present gamechangers--including former US Women's National Soccer Team captain Abby Wambach and SportsCenter anchor Cari Champion--about what it means to be a woman on and off the field. Inspiring, empowering, and unforgettable, Game Changers is the perfect gift for anyone who has a love of the game.

Excerpt provided by Syndetics

Game Changers Excerpted from Game Changers: The Unsung Heroines of Sports History by Molly Schiot All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Inspired by the success of her Unsung Heroines Instagram account, filmmaker Schiot's first book chronicles women athletes and trailblazers who were "forever told no." Biographical entries of women such as tennis player Althea Gibson and Olympic track and field sprinter Wyomia Tyus range from obscure, nearly forgotten figures to household names, and are not limited to the mainstream. Sportswriters, coaches, Title IX advocates, team owners, and reporters are given equal space next to bullfighters, boxers, and archers. With a nod to its Instagram origins, this extravagantly illustrated book is browsable rather than historically linear; some summaries consist of a brief paragraph, while others are in-depth stories complete with cultural context. Also included are conversations between notable women athletes and pioneers of different generations, which validate the progress made and clarify the challenges ahead. Ideal as a motivational starting point for students, researchers, sports fans of all ages, and teachers who cover female athletes and history. VERDICT Appropriate for school and public library collections, this book is a timely combination of photographs and biographical essays that bring trailblazing sportswomen of the past and present to life.-Janet Davis, Darien P.L., CT © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Filmmaker Schiot runs the Instagram account @theUnsungHeroines, which serves as the inspiration for this encyclopedic book. After unsuccessfully pitching documentaries about women in sports, Schiot began researching the topic at the LA84 Foundation's library, where she came across the archives of womenSports magazine and started her Instagram account using the photos and stories she found within, posting a photo a day of a female athlete from the pre-Title IX era. Nearly 150 women are profiled here in random order, with a page of narrative information facing a photograph. Time periods range from the 1920s to the 1984 Olympics, with the bulk in the 1960s and 1970s. Not everyone is an athlete (Melissa Ludtke, the reporter who successfully sued for the right to enter MLB locker rooms, is profiled, as is Robin Herman, the first female New York Times sports reporter). This browsable compendium will be an important addition to the sports collections of most libraries and should do well with sports fans of all types.--Vnuk, Rebecca Copyright 2016 Booklist