University of Delaware Athletics
UD Athletics Celebrates Women's History Month
3/31/2022 11:23:00 AM | Delaware Athletics
Women's History Month. It's a time to celebrate the past and current achievements of women, while recognizing that the future holds endless possibilities for growth and success. Delaware Athletics is home to 11 women's varsity sports programs – basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, indoor and outdoor track & field, volleyball, in addition to its national championship cheer and dance programs.
In the past five years alone in Delaware Athletics, the women's varsity sports programs have won nine Colonial Athletic Association conference championships, earned 13 player and rookie of the year and four coach of the year honors. Add to that the ever-growing amount of regional and All-American honors, and the Blue Hens have been able to shine on the local and national level.
It was hall of fame all-stars like Missy Meharg, Dawn Mayers, Elena Delle Donne, Mary Ann Hitchens, and more that have given former and current Blue Hen student-athletes the feeling that anything is possible if you believe. Whether it was scoring the game winning basket or winning a match point, there are so many moments to be proud of.
And believe is exactly what the Delaware women's basketball team did this year. After a heartbreaking loss in the CAA Tournament a year ago, they went on a run in the WNIT and advanced all the way to the semifinals. This year, the Blue Hens brought that same passion and love for the game, but turned it up a notch and through hard work, grit, and determination the program won the 2022 CAA Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.
The track & field student-athletes are breaking school records faster than we can blink, the lacrosse program captured its first win over a top 25 opponent since 2017, softball is slaying Power 5 programs, the volleyball team has taken sideline celebrations to a whole new level, the spirit program hoisted up their 24th national championship and the list goes on and on.
Rewind to November when the field hockey program had everyone at Fred Rullo Stadium on their feet as they not only captured their 10th CAA Tournament title, but a week later won its opening round game of the NCAA Tournament in that very same stadium.
From the smiles on the student-athletes faces to the misty eyes of Blue Hen faithful, it is moments like this that shine a light on the success of women in sports.
Be Loud. Be ProUD. Go #BlueHens
It's #WomensHistoryMonth!
— #BlueHens (@UDBlueHens) March 1, 2022
On May 13, 2016, Chrissi Rawak (@BlueHensRawak) became the first full-time female Athletics Director in @UDelaware history 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/iZNURUyPeM
#WomensHistoryMonth Missy Meharg
— #BlueHens (@UDBlueHens) March 24, 2022
Following her stellar collegiate career as a two-sport student-athlete, Meharg played 7⃣ years on the U.S. National Field Hockey Team and has served as head coach of the University of Maryland field hockey program since 1988.#BlueHens pic.twitter.com/FbYNfXto6p
#WomensHistoryMonth Spotlight - It's time to highlight @Delaware_Swim alum and hall of famer Dawn Mayers! The 6x All-American shined for UD from 1980-85 in the pool!#BlueHens pic.twitter.com/QqBMP1Hwg8
— #BlueHens (@UDBlueHens) March 16, 2022
#WomensHistoryMonth Spotlight, Tyresa Smith
— #BlueHens (@UDBlueHens) March 10, 2022
Smith, UD's first-ever draft pick in the @WNBA was an outstanding student-athlete while at @UDelaware.
Read more about her remarkable career ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/M1Uw1CRZ2z
#WomensHistoryMonth 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑨𝒏𝒏 𝑯𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒔
— #BlueHens (@UDBlueHens) March 3, 2022
A pioneer. The true definition of game-changer. pic.twitter.com/5AMicTwW1q
