Oct. 17, 2005

2005 Women's Sports Foundation Complete Release in PDF Format
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2005 Women's Sports Foundation Fact Sheet in PDF Format
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FRESNO, Calif.--With an illustrious list of achievements that boasts national and international titles, Fresno State softball head coach Margie Wright will add another superb honor to her resume when she is inducted into the 2005 International Women's Sports Hall of Fame this evening at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City.

An induction that is a tribute to outstanding athletic accomplishments and to women's sports, Wright was selected for this prestigious honor by the Hall of Fame selection committee and the Foundation's Awards Committee.

One of three inductees into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame this evening, Wright is the third softball individual to be inducted as she joins Joan Joyce (1989) and Sharron Backus (1993). Since 1980, 123 women have been honored, as the 2005 class is the 26th group to be singled out by the Women's Sports Foundation.

"This is the most prestigious and most cherished because it's not about wins and losses, it's about a commitment to and for women and to help them become all they can become," said Wright, the NCAA's all-time winningest softball coach. "It means so much to me because there are so many women deserving of an award like this and I am humbled by this recognition.

"All I have ever wanted to do as a woman was to promote fairness, develop overachievers and give other women the right to fulfill their goals and dreams," Wright added. "This honor helps me realize that even though my efforts have been worthwhile it also reminds me we still have a long way to go. My loyalty and commitment to giving others the opportunity to succeed will continue as long as I am able to help."

On the international level, Wright was an assistant coach on the 1996 U.S. Women's National Team that captured the inaugural Olympic gold medal in softball in Atlanta. Two years later she was the head coach for the U.S. Women's National Team that won a gold medal at the 1998 International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championship. That same year, Wright was honored as the 1998 USOC National Coach of the Year in softball.

In 1995, Wright coached the U.S. Junior Women's National team to an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal after also serving as an assistant with the national team that collected gold at the Superball Classic. In 1994, she was a U.S. Women's National Team assistant coach that won gold at the ISF Worlds as well as an assistant that took gold at the 1991 Pan American Games.

Also on the international scene, Wright was the first softball coach and clinician to represent the USIA in Czechoslovakia in 1989 after serving as an international consultant for Latin American and Pan American Games in 1986 and '87.

Nationally, Wright has the only NCAA Division I team title at Fresno State after directing the Bulldogs to a national championship in 1998. As the NCAA's all-time winningest softball coach, she has been inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2000), the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame (1999), the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame (1999), the Illinois State Athletic Hall of Fame, twice (1973 team, 1998; individual, 1979) and the Decatur (Ill.) Hall of Fame (1997).

Tonight's dinner will be attended by more than 1,300 benefactors including more than 100 current and legendary female athletes such as Billie Jean King, Nia Abdallah, Tori Allen, Brandi Chastain, Dominique Dawes, Donna de Varona, Andra Douglas, Joy Fawcett, Lisa Fernandez, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, Julie Foudy, Lillian Green-Chamberlain, Tina George, Janet Guthrie, Mia Hamm, Angela Haynes, Monique Henderson, Wendy Hilliard, Katie Hoff, Kyoko Ina, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Cassie Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Ilana Kloss, Korin Korb, Jessica Mendoza, Aimee Mullins, Martina Navratilova, Ogonna Nnamani, Diana Nyad, Cat Osterman, Carly Patterson, Noelle Pikus-Pace, Erin Popovich, Dawn Riley, Rachel Scdoris, Brenda Villa, Natasha Watley, Donna Weinbrecht, Willye White, Sarah Will and many more.

The International Women's Sports Hall of Fame began in 1980 with the inaugural class of Patty Berg (golf), Amelia Earhart (aviation), Gertrude Ederle (swimming), Althea Gibson (tennis), Janet Guthrie (racing), Eleanor Holm (swimming), King (tennis), Wilma Rudolph (track and field) and Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias (golf, track and field).

Founded in 1974 by King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership programs are made possible by gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. The Foundation is located in Nassau County, N.Y. For more information, call 1-800-227-3988 or visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.