Inaugural Ballers, Andrew Maraniss
Inaugural Ballers, Andrew Maraniss
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Inaugural Ballers
The True Story of the First US Women's Olympic Basketball Team

Author: Andrew Maraniss

Narrator: Nicole Lewis

Unabridged: 7 hr 9 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/13/2022


Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside comes the inspirational true story of the birth of women’s Olympic basketball at the 1976 Summer Games and the ragtag team that put US women’s basketball on the map. Perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown.

A League of Their Own meets Miracle in the inspirational true story of the first US Women’s Olympic Basketball team and their unlikely rise to the top.
 
Twenty years before women’s soccer became an Olympic sport and two decades before the formation of the WNBA, the ’76 US women’s basketball team laid the foundation for the incredible rise of women’s sports in America at the youth, collegiate, Olympic, and professional levels.
 
Though they were unknowns from small schools such as Delta State, the University of Tennessee at Martin and John F. Kennedy College of Wahoo, Nebraska, at the time of the ’76 Olympics, the American team included a roster of players who would go on to become some of the most legendary figures in the history of basketball. From Pat Head, Nancy Lieberman, Ann Meyers, Lusia Harris, coach Billie Moore, and beyond—these women took on the world and proved everyone wrong.  
 
Packed with thoroughly researched details about the beginnings of US women’s basketball, Inaugural Ballers is the fascinating story of the women who paved the way for girls everywhere.

About The Author

New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss writes sports and history-related nonfiction, telling stories with a larger social message. His first book, Strong Inside, received the Lillian Smith Book Award for civil rights and the RFK Book Awards' Special Recognition Prize for social justice, becoming the first sports-related book ever to win either award. His young readers adaptation of Strong Inside was named one of the Top Biographies for Youth by the American Library Association and was named a Notable Social Studies Book by the Children's Book Council. His acclaimed second book for kids Games of Deception was a Sydney Taylor Book Award Middle Grade Honor Recipient, a Junior Library Guild selection, and was praised by authors Steve Sheinkin and Susan Campbell Bartoletti. He is also the author of Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke. Andrew is a contributor to ESPN's sports and race website, TheUndefeated.com, and is a visiting author at the Vanderbilt University Athletic Department.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Nursebookie on September 14, 2022

TITLE: Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First US Women's Olympic Basketball Team AUTHOR: Andrew Maraniss PUB DATE: 09.13.2022 Now Available Inspiration Emotional Underdog story There is nothing more I love than reading true stories about an underdog team that rises up to the challenge. Maraniss wr......more

Goodreads review by John on April 03, 2025

This was a pleasant surprise. Using the story of the 1976 U.S. women's Olympic basketball team as its primary focus, the author writes a concise, compelling history of the sport and many of the women who helped forge what it is today. There are a number of very vivid personalities here, and they are......more

Goodreads review by Laina on March 22, 2023

As a current women’s basketball player I am extremely grateful for this story to be told and shared to show the fight and process for women to get where we are today especially in the sports world. It was a very inspiring book and made me grateful for every woman who has fought for our right to play......more

Goodreads review by Lexi (Reads and Riesling) on October 23, 2022

Thorough and intersectional book about not just the first US women’s Olympic basketball team, but of women’s sports in general. Highly recommend......more

Goodreads review by Kailey on March 12, 2025

A great history covering feminism, racism, homophobia, and both national and international politics, all centered around women's basketball. I would highly recommend for all women's sports fans.......more


Quotes

*"Andrew Maraniss, known for his prolific narrative nonfiction writings focused on disenfranchised and often forgotten athletic heroes...now seeks to chronicle the 1976 US National Women’s Basketball team’s triumph in the Montreal Olympics. More than just a history or collection of biographies, this title presents a sociological study about the role of women in US sports...Not only ideal for sports historians or basketball enthusiasts, this book would also make great fodder for read-alouds about underdogs and strong females."--School Library Connection (starred review)

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"The underdog story of America’s first women's Olympic basketball team plays out in this thoughtful exploration of social change...a book that will stick with readers long after they put it down...A winning story full of heart, camaraderie, and power."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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"An inspiring, comprehensive look at the first U.S. women's Olympic basketball team...A triumphant account for any sports fan."--Booklist (starred review)

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"A winning look at the creation and legacy of a team that went from underdogs to unstoppable....Maraniss, a master of narrative-nonfiction, creates an immersive and emotional story...An inspirational look at remarkable athletes breaking boundaries. An exceptional read and an essential purchase."--School Library Journal (starred review)