Travis Heying/AP Images for adidas
It's been 50 years since 37 words changed the sports landscape forever.
Buried deep in the hundreds of pages of the United States Congress' Education Amendments of 1972, Title IX prohibited sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive funding from the federal government. Those seemingly inconsequential 37 words opened the floodgates for women's athletics to flourish across America and laid the groundwork for some of the most memorable moments in sports.
Now, half a century after Title IX was codified into law, Sports Illustrated is paying homage to the landmark legislation with an issue devoted to all of the feats made possible because of Title IX.
Gabriela Bury/Sports Illustrated
The cover, shown above, features some of the best-known titans of women's sports: Billie Jean King, Simone Biles, Serena Williams, Dawn Staley, Pat Summit, Allyson Felix, Mo-Ne Davis, and more. But notably, the user-generated illustration, assembled by graphic designer Gabriela Bury, also includes photos of everyday athletes who owe their involvement in organized sports to those 37 words.
Inside the June issue, readers can find retrospectives on the legislation's impact and the trailblazers, who cemented its role in transforming the sports landscape; portraits of modern-day stars; analyses of the next frontiers of gender equality in sports; and a first-person essay from Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman on the significance of Title IX.
