Shattering the Glass - 2nd Edition by Pamela Grundy & Susan Shackelford

About the Book

"American women's basketball has reached new peaks of interest and popularity, thanks to spellbinding athletes, exhilarating games, and a vibrant, empowered vision of womanhood. Shattering the Glass stands as the definitive history of the sport. Combining extensive historical research with dozens of oral history interviews, Pamela Grundy and Susan Shackelford bring life and depth to stories of the many generations of female athletes who have fought for liberation on and off the court. In this new and substantially expanded edition, Grundy and Shackelford provide a fresh view of the sport that extends to the present. They chart the expanding visibility of college programs, the growing dynamism of the WNBA, and players' courageous leadership on social issues such as sexuality and race, drawing on the actions and reflections of stars such as Seimone Augustus, Kim Mulkey, Brittney Griner, Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Breanna Stewart, Dawn Staley, and Caitlin Clark. The result is a compelling story of women's empowerment through sport over the past century."--

Book Synopsis

American women's basketball has reached new peaks of interest and popularity, thanks to spellbinding athletes, exhilarating games, and a vibrant, empowered vision of womanhood. Shattering the Glass stands as the definitive history of the sport. Combining extensive historical research with dozens of oral history interviews, Pamela Grundy and Susan Shackelford bring life and depth to stories of the many generations of female athletes who have fought for liberation on and off the court.

In this new and substantially expanded edition, Grundy and Shackelford provide a fresh view of the sport that extends to the present. They chart the expanding visibility of college programs, the growing dynamism of the WNBA, and players' courageous leadership on social issues such as sexuality and race, drawing on the actions and reflections of stars such as Seimone Augustus, Kim Mulkey, Brittney Griner, Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Breanna Stewart, Dawn Staley, and Caitlin Clark. The result is a compelling story of women's empowerment through sport over the past century.

Review Quotes

"[An] accessible historical review of women's basketball. . . . A particularly important contribution is the racial history of the game and the resulting cultural impact, which also highlights the struggles of other groups, such as LGBTQ+. . . . Highly recommended."--CHOICE

"Shattering the Glass is the definitive work on women's basketball history.... All readers will benefit from considering the links the book draws between sports and changing visions of womanhood, race, class, region, and sexuality."--Brad Austin, coeditor of Teaching U.S. History Through Sports

"Deeply researched and deftly written, Shattering the Glass lovingly preserves the history of the women who fought for their place on the court. Covering the game from its infancy to the current moment of ascendance, this seminal work is filled with stories you won't soon forget. A must-read."--Kate Fagan, sports journalist and coauthor of Hoop Muses

About the Author

Pamela Grundy is a historian and author who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her previous books include Teaching U.S. History through Sport and Color and Character: West Charlotte High and the American Struggle over Educational Equity.

Susan Shackelford runs her own writing and editing business and is the author of Hoops and Heroes: The Inspiring History of Army West Point Women's Basketball. She is a former sportswriter at the Miami Herald and the Charlotte Observer. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.