6 Women Who Made Sports History with Ties to Albany
This International Women's Day we're showcasing six, history-making female athletes who have roots in Albany County.
From Olympic competitors to those who've accomplished record-breaking victories, these women have changed the game and made their mark on sports history.
This blog was originally published ahead of the history-making 2024 NCAA Division I Women's Regional which stopped by the MVP Arena in Albany from March 29 to April 1, 2024.
In an unexpected turn of events, professional golfer Kathy Guadagnino (then Kathy Baker) surprised everyone with her career-defining win in the 1985 Women's US Open with just a three-stroke lead over competitor Judy Clark. This was her very first title as a professional athlete, marking her as one of only 13 players of the Ladies Professional Golf Association to call the Open their first career victory.
But the Albany-born athlete had been a history-maker years before the 1985 competition. A player for the University of Tulsa, Guadagnino made her mark in NCAA history, winning the inaugural Individual NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship title in 1982. She then helped lead her team to victory with the University winning both AIAW and NCAA national titles. But Guadagnino was not only the first to earn the Individual title, it was also her first title in her college career, meaning she exemplifies the idea of making sports history to a tee.










