Read about why Grand Prize Winner Marissa Greco, 11 years old, thinks Lynette Woodward is the most outstanding or interesting performer to ever be a Harlem Globetrotter!
NiE Sponsored Accademic Challenge
Grand Prize winner- gets to sit on the bench with the players…
Lynette Woodward
Marissa Greco – Age 11
The Harlem Globetrotters played their first touring game in 1927 and, as with most sports of that
time, it was an all male team. In 1942, the first Caucasian man joined the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1985,
Lynetter Woodward became the first woman ever to play for the team. In fact, she became the first female
in history to play on a team with a male roster. This just shows how progressive the Harlem Globetrotters
are. In 1985 they were changing with the times.
Lynetter Woodward is a 6 foot guard and is the cousin of Harlem Globetrotter legend Hubert
"Geese" Ausbie. She was a four time All-American standout at the University of Kansas between 1978
and 1981, averaging 26.3 points per game. She was a member of the 1984 US Olympic team that captured
a gold medal. She signed with the Harlem Globetrotters prior to the 1985 season, where she played until
1987. Afterwards, she joined a professional team in Italy. In 1989 Woodward was inducted into the
National High School Hall of Fame. Between 1990 and 1993 she played professionally in Japan. She
became a registered stockbroker in New York, but continued her basketball career as well. She played for
the Cleveland Rockers of the WNBA during the summer of 1997 and was selected by the Detroit Shock in
1998 WNBA draft.
Since Woodward blazed the path, eight women have become team players for the Harlem
Globetrotters. Even at the executive level women play many roles for the team. At least six positions are
filled by women in the Globetrotters Association. I hope that when I grow up, I can work for such a
friendly and open minded organization.