Born: 9 March 1868, Lithuania
Died: 16 February 1954
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Senda Berenson Abbott, Senda Valvrojenski
The following is republished with permission from the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail.
Considered the mother of women’s basketball, Senda Berenson (1868-1954) adapted the rules for women and in 1984, posthumously, became the first woman inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. After the family emigrated from Lithuania to Boston in 1875, they lived here in a building no longer standing. Encouraged by her parents to study piano, Senda was too frail for the rigors of rehearsals. Instead, she attended the Boston Normal School of Gymnastics in order to build her strength. After graduation, Berenson was hired by Smith College as Athletics Director. While there she introduced “Basket Ball” with new game rules for women and stressed camaraderie and teamwork.