University Celebrates 50 Years of Women’s Athletics as Female Sports Takes Center Stage

Half a century after Rockhurst University started its first women’s athletic programs, female sports are stronger than ever.

The buzz around Caitlin Clark led to record ratings for the NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament, outpacing interest in the men’s tournament. In Kansas City, the world’s first venue purpose-built for women’s sports — CPKC Stadium — opened in March.

Here on campus, women’s athletics have also come a long way, from those who pioneered as members of the first women’s sports teams to the student-athletes who have come since and led their teams to success on and off the field.

On April 12-14, Hawks past and present celebrated the accomplishments of female student-athletes at Rockhurst over the past 50 years. The weekend culminated in a special event Saturday that featured a keynote address from Katherine Holland, executive director of the KC2026 effort to be a host city for the upcoming World Cup, a panel discussion among members of Hawks teams past and present, an awards ceremony and a “blue carpet” reception for female student-athletes of every generation.

In that panel discussion, Sue Sweeney, ’76, a member of the University’s first women’s basketball team, and Jeanne Kelly, ’93, a member of the first NAIA women’s soccer team at Rockhurst, both said that being a student-athlete was about more than being able to showcase their talents in their respective sports. When they faced personal adversity or tragedy, it was through their experience as student-athletes that they were able to persevere.

“I just think, for me, the lesson learned was just showing up and having the support of my teammates, my friends, and the administration, and I feel like Rockhurst provided me with the emotional support that I needed,” Kelly said. “I don’t know where I’d be without my experience here at Rockhurst.”

For others, the common thread was how their experience as student-athletes prepared them for what came after.

“I’ve learned an immeasurable amount from being a student-athlete my entire life, but one thing that we are constantly reminded of is that women are strong,” said Dani Mabry, a graduate physical therapy student and member of the Hawks lacrosse team. “I’ve learned that I’m capable of so much more than I’ve ever given myself credit for and that has set me up to be hopefully successful in my career.”

As a testament to the accomplishments of female student-athletes, the University also recognized female members of the Rockhurst Athletics Hall of Fame who were present and presented two awards. The St. Ignatius Alumni Award went to Amber Schreiber, ’02, ’05 MBA, president and CEO of the Golden Scoop, an ice cream and coffee shop that provides meaningful job opportunities to individuals with developmental disabilities. Schreiber said her experience at Rockhurst was transformative, and being a student-athlete modeled the sorts of team dynamics that played a part in making the Golden Scoop a reality.

“Playing basketball at Rockhurst presented me with both challenges and opportunities, teaching me the importance of perseverance, teamwork and dedication. Receiving this award is not just a recognition of individual achievement, but a testament to the collective efforts of everyone who has believed in the mission of the Golden Scoop.”

One current student-athlete was also recognized with the Taylor (Skala) Sares, ’15, Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Bearing the name of one of the most decorated student-athletes in University history, the award honors the top female Hawk. This year, the award was presented to Maureen Reilly, a senior libero on the women’s volleyball team, who has been named several times to All-American teams and was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2024.