FOR NEARLY TWO HUNDRED years, American women and sports had little to do with one another. While men have competed in games, contests, and teams since the beginning of our country and have been members of paid professional teams for more than a hundred years, women have been on the sidelines until recently. In the 1990s, women's sports are gaining a new visibility. The recent popularity of women's college basketball, women's Olympic events, and new women's professional baseball and basketball teams are signs that women are taking a bigger role in sports in America. Still, sports remain heavily dominated by men. Why? Some people believe that it is simply a matter of the differing physical abilities of men and women. Others believe that there is active discrimination against women in sports.

Discrimination forbidden by law

A...