Vanderbilt University

Established in 1873, Vanderbilt is one of the oldest private universities in the South. Known for their academic excellence, the Commodores have also excelled in athletics. One of the founding members of today’s SEC conference, Vanderbilt can also lay claim to several “firsts” related to women’s sports. After parking near the baseball stadium on Perry Wallace Way, make your way to Memorial Gym and listen as you walk. In 1897, the first publicly played women’s basketball game was held in the Old University Gym near West End Avenue. The building was completed in 1880 and today serves as the office for undergraduate admissions. On March 16, Vandy squared off against Ward Seminary. One of Vanderbilt’s first female graduates, Stella Vaughn, served as player-coach. Baskets counted 5 points each, and Vanderbilt emerged victorious, 5-0.

Now let’s fast forward to the 1970s. After decades of intramural-only competition, Vanderbilt established four varsity programs. Emily Harsh was appointed women’s athletic director and June Stewart became the women’s sports information director. In 1990, Stewart was elected the first female president of the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Teresa Lawrence Phillips was the first Black woman to play a varsity sport at Vanderbilt, and in 1980 she received the first Lady Commodore Athlete of the Year Award. Phillips would go on to coach at Fisk and TSU, leading the Tigers to their first NCAA tournament appearance and becoming the first woman to coach an NCAA Division I men’s basketball game. Phillips retired from TSU in 2020 after 31 years, eighteen of which were spent as the school’s athletic director.

In 1984, Jefferson City native Carolyn Peck arrived at Vanderbilt. After a standout college career and a short stint playing professionally overseas, Carolyn began coaching. She rose through the ranks to become the head coach at Purdue University in 1998. The next year, the Boilermakers won the 1999 NCAA tournament—making Peck the first Black female head coach to win the NCAA title. Carolyn continues to shine as a basketball analyst for ESPN.

The most recent Vanderbilt history-makers are Candice Storey Lee and Sarah Fuller. Candice played basketball for the ‘Dores from 1996 to 2000 and stayed to work in the athletic department. In 2004, she became the Senior Woman Administrator and in 2020, she became Vanderbilt’s first female athletic director and the first African American woman to head an SEC athletics program. As you leave campus to head to our last stop in Nashville, you’ll pass Dudley Field—home to Vanderbilt football. In 2020, the women’s soccer goalie Sarah Fuller helped her team win the SEC women’s soccer tournament. The next day she was asked to be a kicker for the football team after members of the kicking team were quarantined with Covid-19. On November 28, 2020 Sarah became the first woman to play in a Power Five football game. Two weeks later, Fuller kicked an extra point here against Tennessee, making her the first woman to score in a Power Five game.

Back on Perry Wallace Way, turn RIGHT onto Jess Neely Dr. and drive past Hawkins baseball stadium and Dudley Field/Vanderbilt Stadium—the site of Sarah Fuller’s historic point after kick. Turn LEFT onto Natchez Trace and you’ll pass the indoor football practice facility, soccer/lacrosse complex, track, and intramural fields. Turn LEFT onto Blakemore Ave. and cross over 21st Ave. S as it turns into Wedgewood Ave. Turn RIGHT onto 17th Ave S then LEFT onto 18th Ave S. Finally, turn LEFT onto Portland Ave. You’ll see the Curb Event Center straight ahead. Find street parking along Belmont Blvd. or turn LEFT on Compton Ave. and LEFT on Bernard Ave. to park in the Curb Center parking garage. On Compton you’ll see the new Crockett Center for Athletic Excellence.