Smith Athletics Hall of Fame
Often known as the woman who brought the game of basketball to women, Senda Berenson made numerous other contributions to the development of physical education at Smith. As the Head of Physical Education at Smith, she focused on the health benefits of physical education and exercise, which had helped her conquer her hatred for sports as well as her persistent illness as a young woman. When she heard of the development of basketball in nearby Springfield, she saw its potential for health benefits and went on to initiate a female version of the game at Smith. This led her to write the official guide for women’s basketball and to become the first female inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame.
