The Female Basketball Player

Abstract

The number of female athletes, including female basketball players, at all levels of competition has steadily grown over the past several decades. Basketball remains the third most popular high school level sport for females [1]. Since the creation of the WNBA in 1996, the number of collegiate women’s basketball teams has grown. While management of many injuries and medical conditions is similar for both male and female athletes, there are important anatomical and physiological differences between the sexes. These differences influence the risk of injury as well as athletic performance. Also unique to female athletes, pregnancy during training and competition may occur.