Historical Society Hosts Women's Sports Panel
The Philadelphia event highlighted archival efforts and the legacy of female athletes in professional sports.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Basketball
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The Historical Society of Pennsylvania hosted a panel discussion regarding the history and preservation of women's sports. The event showcased memorabilia and featured insights from notable figures in the field.
Why it matters
Panelists emphasized the necessity of documenting women's athletic achievements to ensure their historical contributions are not lost to time. They encouraged attendees to actively research and record their own family athletic histories.
Valerie Still remains the Kentucky Wildcats' all-time career points leader 43 years after her college career concluded. Meanwhile, 83-year-old Lurline Jones continues to be recognized for her landmark 1979 Title IX lawsuit.
The players
Valerie Still
She is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the great-great-grandniece of the abolitionist William Still.
Brenda VanLengen
She is the producer of the docuseries If Not for Them which explores the history of women's basketball.
Lurline Jones
She is an 83-year-old pioneer who famously challenged inequality in sports by filing a Title IX lawsuit in 1979.
The details
The panel featured Women's Basketball Hall of Fame member Valerie Still and producer Brenda VanLengen, who discussed her docuseries titled If Not for Them. The event also included a one-night-only exhibit of sports memorabilia intended to bridge the gap between archival history and public awareness.
Timeline
1920s: Grandmother of Brenda VanLengen played basketball.
1950s-1960s: Opportunities for women in sports declined.
1979: Lurline Jones filed a Title IX lawsuit.
1999: Valerie Still retired from professional basketball.
October 14, 2026: The Historical Society of Pennsylvania hosted the panel.
Season Trajectory
The discussion of Title IX underscores the systemic shifts that paved the way for professional expansion efforts. This historical context informs the growing momentum behind the Philadelphia Sisters' 2030 goal to bring a new team to the city.
Fans tracking the 2030 expansion timeline should monitor the progress of the Philadelphia Sisters group as they work to establish a franchise. Additionally, donors interested in historical documentation can follow the ongoing fundraising efforts for the If Not for Them docuseries.
The takeaway
Preserving the history of women's sports requires both institutional archival efforts and individual research into family legacies. Supporters can contribute to this movement by documenting local athletic history and following the progress of upcoming professional team initiatives.
What happens next
The Philadelphia Sisters group is working toward bringing a professional team to the city by 2030.
Further reading
Learn more about the local sports landscape at Philadelphia Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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