Summit League Title IX

The Summit League is thrilled to announce a partnership with Fanword, an athlete storytelling and branding company, to collaborate on a 10-part series that will feature pioneers and benefactors of Title IX from each of our 10 current members that will be distributed starting on August 9th and continuing on the 9th of each of the following months. 

What is Title IX?

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

Title IX Ambassaors

Traci Kovar

Annie Hoskinson

Lou Eggebraaten

Stephanie (Kirby) Dowell

Diane Wendt

Connie Claussen

Megan Jacobson

Dr. Tina Keller

Basketball Starting Five

CeCe Cornelius

Dani Brooke

Denver Athletics

North Dakota State Athletics

Omaha Athletics

Oral Roberts Athletics

South Dakota State Athletics

Western Illinois Athletics

Summit League Hall of Fame

Chen Ni - Induction Class of 2020

Became the first female in Summit League history to win two NCAA Championships, after winning the platform dive in 2010 (325.50) and 2012 (343.05), garnering All-American honors. She earned four first-team All-Summit League accolades and was a three-time Diver of the Year (2009-10, 2012). Ni was named the 2012 Summit League Diving Championship MVP where she earned a dive score of 283.10. The Qingdao, China native earned five career Diver of the Week honors, was named the Summit League Athlete of the Month four times in her career, earned an invitation to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials and was inducted into the IUPUI Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.    

Amy (Anderson) Olson - Induction Class of 2020

Olson remains the NCAA career leader in women's golf individual victories with 20. During her collegiate career at North Dakota State from 2009-13, she broke the old mark of 17 set by LPGA star Juli Inkster, who played collegiately at San Jose State. Olson is the only four-time Summit League Golfer of the Year in league history and a was three-time Championship MVP, a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and a two-time All-American during her career as a Bison. She is currently playing on the LPGA tour where she has amassed more than $2.6 million in career earnings. She has a pair of runner-up finishes on the tour, including the 2018 Evian Championship, which is one of five majors on the tour.

E.C. Hill - Induction Class of 2018

The first All-America selection in league history, E.C. Hill was a pioneer for the sport of women's basketball. During her senior season in 1993-94, Hill earned first team All-America from the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), becoming the league's initial student-athlete in any sport to achieve the feat. That year, she set the single-season standard in four statistical categories, including scoring average, on her way to league Player of the Year honors. 

Hill also earned honorable mention All-America selection in 1992-93. She played professionally in the American Basketball League and became the first league alumnae to compete in the WNBA. Hill embarked on a coaching career, including stints as a Division I assistant, following her playing career. She was appointed as the Delaware State women's basketball head coach in June 2021 and was inducted into the Chicago Public League Hall of Fame in 2000, inducted into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and was an inductee into the Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

Dr. Helen Smiley - Induction Class of 2018

Dr. Helen Smiley was one of the most influential administrators in league history with a career that spanned across three decades. The Dr. Helen Smiley Women’s All-Sports Award is annually presented to the school with the most combined points in all league-sponsored women’s sports. In 2000, Smiley earned the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)/Continental Airlines Athletic Director of the Year award. Smiley was named Western Illinois’ Director of Women’s Athletics in 1985 before assuming the role as Director of Athletics from 1994 through her retirement in 2001. Throughout her tenure, Smiley helped guide the league and served on several committees for the NCAA, including the Mideast Advisory Committee from 1996-99, and NACDA. 

Krista Ragan-Binam - Induction Class of 2017

One of the most decorated women's basketball players in league history, Krista Ragan-Binam, was the first to earn three Player of the Year honors. She began her career by winning both the Newcomer of the Year and Tournament MVP award as a freshman while leading Oral Roberts to its first NCAA Tournament appearance. As a sophomore, Ragan began her run of three consecutive league Player of the Year honors, while earning a second career Tournament MVP honor in 2001. A first team all-league performer each of her four seasons, Ragan ended her college career as the league's all-time leading scorer and the first to surpass the 2,000-point plateau. She played in the WNBA before embarking on a high school coaching career.

Anita Rapp - Induction Class of 2017

The league's first Olympic Gold Medalist, Anita Rapp excelled on both the college level and the international stage. While an undergraduate, Rapp won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games as a member of the Norwegian National Team. She also played for her native Norway in two World Cups. A two-time league co-Player of the Year, Rapp also earned first team All-America and second team Academic All-America honors during her senior season in 2001. She capped her college career by earning Tournament MVP honors and moving atop the league's all-time list for total assists and assists per game. Rapp helped teams win a pair of Norwegian League titles and the Norwegian Cup. Following her playing career, Rapp served the Norwegian Football Association as the International Coordinator for the Women's and Girl's National Teams.