Introduction of Women’s Basketball Women’s basketball was introduced in 1893 by Sendra Berenson, a gymnastic instructor, at Smith College, Northampton, MA. No male spectators were allowed since it was socially unacceptable at the time. However, Berenson was taking risks simply in teaching the game to women. She worried a little about the women suffering from “nervous fatigue” if games were too strenuous for them. In order to keep it “acceptable” for women to play at all, she taught modified rules. These included a court divided into three areas and nine players per team. Three players were assigned to each area (guard, center, forward) and could not cross the line into another area. The ball was moved from section to section by passing or dribbling.