On June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funding. Title IX had a significant impact on women’s sports by increasing participation opportunities, promoting equal treatment, and expanding scholarship opportunities.

In 1973, University of Texas President Stephen Spurr formed a subcommittee titled the Council on the Status of Women and Minorities to examine the state of women’s sports on campus. At the end of fall semester, 1973, the subcommittee submitted a set of recommendations to President Spurr that included establishing a separate Department of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. By 1974, there were already women’s varsity teams for basketball, volleyball, golf, gymnastics, badminton, tennis, swimming, and the newly added track and field team. The first scholarships were awarded to female athletes, totaling approximately $15,000. In 1975, despite pushback from UT President Lorene Rogers, Donna Lopiano was hired as the first Women’s Athletic Director and given a budget for her department of $128,000 and 28 athletic scholarships were given to women.

This is the first media guide for the women’s athletic department: