Producer’s notebook: OPB producer-reporter Emily Hamilton, who grew up in the Portland area, discusses the significance of learning about the depth of women’s sports history in Portland and the important role sports have played in her life.
Portland is the global epicenter of women’s sports.
You might have heard people say this in the lead-up to the return of the Fire, Portland’s WNBA team. And the history here is surprisingly deep — even for me, a person who was already a die-hard fan.
University of Portland women's soccer team celebrates national championship in 2005.
University of Portland Athletics
I grew up just outside of Portland playing all kinds of sports: soccer, basketball, track and cross country. In sixth grade, I dressed up as an Olympian for Halloween. My parents and grandparents are coaches and athletes — playing sports has always been an integral part of my identity. It helped me, a shy kid, build confidence and resilience as well as find my community.
I thought I already had a deep knowledge of this city’s women’s sports history. It was so exciting to learn how deep the story really goes, beyond anything I could have imagined.
In 1937, Portland Recreation Director Dorothea Lensch (one of the only women in the U.S. to hold a position like this at the time) saw the importance of creating opportunities for girls and women to play sports.
Then, there were the Florists. This world championship softball team started playing in 1938 and became the pride of the city. They played for almost 30 years.
Florist pitcher, Pearl Pinion, in 1957.
Portland Metro Softball Association / USA Softball of Portland
In the 1970s, the Lavender Menace continued to break barriers as one of the first openly gay softball teams in the country.
Then in the 1990s and 2000s, the University of Portland women’s soccer team won national championships and smashed NCAA attendance records.
Fast forward to 2013, Portland got the Thorns and the Rose City Riveters — a celebrated team and supporters group that changed the perception of women’s sports worldwide.
From unexpected Title IX connections to important queer history and the world’s first-ever sports bar dedicated 100% to women’s sports, I’m now convinced that the world of women’s sports we know today might not even exist without the city of Portland.
And without the Portlanders who helped build this world — who paved the way and made it possible for me to play sports and be an athlete — I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
More on Portland’s deep and surprising history of women’s sports:
- The Oregon Historical Quarterly’s Spring 2024 issue on the Lavender Menace and the Florists
- OPB “Evergreen” podcast episode on Portland women’s sports
- History scrapbook on Portland Recreation Director Dorothea Lensch and the Erv Lind Florists
- Hall of Fame info on “Bullet” Betty Evans
- Deep dive into the Title IX 50th Anniversary Report
- Listen to this oral history interview with Margaret Dobson
- Read more about legendary Hall of Fame softball pitcher Louise “Chris” Mazzuca
A note about evolving language around queer identity: This video uses the words “gay” and “queer” as umbrella terms to describe groups of individuals in Portland’s historic LGBTQIA+ community. The producer would like to recognize that people in the past may have used different words to describe their identities.