Introduction: Engaging contested terrain / David C. Ogden and Joel Nathan Rosen -- Folklore and fairy tales: Babe Didrikson Zaharias revealed / Martha Reid -- "Take me out to the bellegame": how the AAGPBL gained and maintained its highly respected reputation / Kimberley Young -- The woman who should be king: the simplification of life and career of Billie Jean King / Elizabeth O'Connell -- Venus and Serena Williams: traversing the barriers of the country club world / Earl Smith and Angela J. Hattery -- Marion Jones: equity through infamy / Roberta J. Newman and Joel Nathan Rosen -- Paired heroines: Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the global stage / Kathleen A. Bishop -- "Raindrops on a window": race and sex and the framing of the Sheryl Swoopes narrative / Lisa Doris Alexander -- Florence Griffith Joyner: sexual politician in a unitard / Yvonne D. Sims -- Racing into the storm: Roberta Gibb, Kathrine Switzer, and women's marathoning / Oren Renick and Lea Robin Velez -- Go mama! Branded by beauty: how Danica Patrick swooned her way into sponsorship / Lisa R. Neilson.