Basketball in bloomers: Historic photos of Sonoma County women in sports

At the turn of the 19th century, there weren't many options available for girls in athletics. Women's athletics focused more on health and wellness instead of competitive sport. But as social changes came about in the United States and women slowly earned more equal rights, options began to change. Reflecting on the positive influence of sport on women's lives, Suffragette Susan B. Anthony said "bicycling has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world…. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride on a wheel. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance."

When women were given the right to vote in 1920, a few Sonoma County schools had girls' basketball teams. Other options soon began to appear - like softball, swimming and horseback riding at various local institutions - but schools did not invest heavily in female athletes.

Up until the 1970s, there were no conferences or league play for women, even at the collegiate level. Participants lined up against whoever could be found, including high school squads.

In 1972, Title IX passed, requiring gender equality for boys and girls in all educational and athletic programs receiving federal funding. Local stalwarts, like former North Bay League commissioner Marie Sugiyama (a coach and physical education teacher at Montgomery High at the time), rallied for gym space, practice times, and uniform budgets - things that had never been debated before.

Over the years our community has invested more and more in competitive programs for female athletes. In the 2016 Olympic games, we sent three female athletes - Maya DiRado, Molly Hannis and Kim Conley - to compete. What great athletes will come out of Sonoma County in the future?

Click through our gallery above to see historical photos of early female sporting life in Sonoma County.

-Staff writer Kerry Benefield contributed to this report