First woman Globetrotter makes N. American debut

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

Nov. 13, 1985

Lynette Woodard, the first woman Harlem Globetrotter, makes her North American debut with the touring team. The former Kansas guard, the most prolific scorer in women's collegiate basketball history with more than 3,600 points, scores seven points in a quarter and a half as the Globetrotters beat the Washington Generals -- of course -- before a less than capacity crowd of 3,250 in Spokane Coliseum in Washington.

"This is the opportunity of the century, the first time in history," says Woodard, who had joined the Trotters during their tour through Australia.

She was first turned on to Globetrotter magic by her cousin, Geese Ausbie, a Trotter star who left the team last spring. She was the captain of the U.S. women's team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles.

Woodard will play two years with the Globetrotters before leaving the team because she believed the organization hampered her freedom to pursue outside interests while touring with the team.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe