Savannah native Karen Rudolph discusses how she helped shape women’s sports in Missouri
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Women’s sports throughout the world continue to grow with notable figures like the WNBA’s Caitlyn Clark and Olympic champion figure skater Alyssa Liu becoming role models to younger generations.
Just as important to recognize are the women who played crucial roles in helping create the opportunities available today. One of them just happens to hail from Northwest Missouri, in Savannah native Karen Rudolph. Rudolph has helped shape women’s sports in multiple roles through the years as an athlete, coach and journalist.
Her passion for sports was present early in her childhood even with the lack interscholastic sports for girls. Once she got to high school in the 1970s, Rudolph was able to be a part of a travel softball team with her twin sister, where they won four state state championships. The team was fully sponsored by a married couple, Nanetta and Warren Carter, who wanted to give young girls the ability to play sports at a high level.
Rudolph credited the team to giving herself and her twin sister, Sharon, opportunities in sports along with instilling life lessons. “Playing for this team gave me a lot of confidence, not just in my physical abilities,” Rudolph said. “Honestly, I feel like sports gives you so much for your life in terms of discipline, competing and setting and reaching goals.
” When she reached her junior year of high school Rudolph wanted to play another sport, basketball. This came right before Title IX of the education amendments of 1972, a federal civil rights law which prohibited sex-based discrimination within any education based program or activity that received financial assistance. “I just always loved basketball, I always embodied the mindset of UCLA coach John Wooden,” Rudolph said.
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