03/11/2026
Tre Pazzi trattoria will present local author Karen S. Rudolph speaking about her newly released book, Sidelined No Longer: The Untold Story of Women’s College Sports. The event planned for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, will be the author’s second appearance locally in celebration of Women’s History Month.
"Sidelined No Longer" tells the story of how women fought for access, recognition and respect in an era that rarely welcomed them. In the process, they laid the foundation for the energy and excitement seen today in women’s sports.
Little is known about the women who championed the growth of women’s college sports. Teams, players, coaching, budgets—everything was less for female athletes prior to a national law now known as Title IX, which passed in 1972 and called for women to receive equal educational opportunities. It quickly was applied to athletics and sports competition.
At the story’s center is Jean Cerra, hired in the 1976-77 school year as the University of Missouri's first women’s athletic director. She joined ten other women who sought to move governance of women's intercollegiate sports from an all-women’s organization into the NCAA, which oversaw men’s college sports. That change was criticized by the women’s organization, and seen as unpopular and controversial. Within a few years, the women’s organization failed as
the NCAA offered numerous women’s championships.
The author will answer questions following the presentation, with books available for sale. The event is open to the public, with small appetizers served and wine
available for purchase.
For more information, contact Tre Pazzi Trattoria, 530-823-2994.
