▁Pe aks . ▁▁ 1 9 4 0 s : ▁Lo is ▁F eg an ▁Far rell ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁female ▁rep orter ▁to ▁cover ▁a ▁professional ▁hockey ▁team ▁in ▁America . ▁▁ 1 9 6 0 : ▁Mary ▁McG ee ▁becomes ▁the ▁first ▁official ▁female ▁motor cycle ▁rac er ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁by ▁ear ning ▁a ▁license ▁from ▁the ▁Federation ▁Intern ationale ▁de ▁Mot ocy cl isme . ▁She ▁is ▁also ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁comp ete ▁in ▁the ▁B aja ▁ 5 0 0 ▁off - road ▁race . ▁▁ 1 9 6 0 : ▁Wil ma ▁Rud olph , ▁track ▁and ▁field ▁champion , ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁American ▁woman ▁to ▁win ▁three ▁gold ▁med als ▁in ▁the ▁Rome ▁Olympics . ▁She ▁elev ated ▁women ' s ▁track ▁to ▁a ▁major ▁presence ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁As ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁black ▁community , ▁she ▁is ▁also ▁regarded ▁as ▁a ▁civil ▁rights ▁and ▁women ' s ▁rights ▁pione er . ▁Al ong ▁with ▁other ▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁Olympic ▁athlet es ▁such ▁as ▁Cass ius ▁Clay ▁( who ▁later ▁became ▁Muhammad ▁Ali ), ▁Rud olph ▁became ▁an ▁international ▁star ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁first ▁international ▁television ▁coverage ▁of ▁the ▁Olympics ▁that ▁year . ▁ ▁November ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 1 9 6 8 : ▁Pen ny ▁Ann ▁Early , ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁play ▁major ▁professional ▁basketball , ▁in ▁an ▁A BA ▁game ▁( K ent ucky ▁Col on els ▁vs . ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁Stars ). ▁ ▁August ▁