COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A new campaign by the University of Maryland's Athletic Department is shedding light on how athletics can inspire the generations of the future, and the importance of athletics and how it can play an important role in the development of girls and young women.
The "Fearless Women" campaign by Maryland is not only helping raise money and support for the university's athletic program but also sharing stories about some of the best female athletes to represent the Terrapins.
So with this campaign, here is a look at ten of the top female athletes in University of Maryland history.
1. Jen Adams - Lacrosse (1998 - 2001)
When you talk about one person making such an impact on the sport, Jen Adams and women's lacrosse is certainly a prime example. The Australian transplant not only dominated the sport but helped grow it so much as her time as a Terrapin. Between 1998 and 2001, she led Maryland to a National Championship, was named the ACC Female Athlete of the Year twice and scored 445 points, while also accounting for 178 assists. Currently, she is the head coach for the women's lacrosse team at Loyola University Maryland.
2. Vicky Bullett - Basketball (1986 - 1989)
Bullet dominated as a forward for Maryland from 1986 to 1989. During her time at the university, she helped the Terrapins gain three ACC titles and made a Final Four run with her team in 1989, during her senior year. During her time in College Park, she was a three-time All-ACC player. After her collegiate career, Bullet would play on the '92 Olympic basketball team and had an outstanding professional career with the Charlotte Sting and Washington Mystics. Currently, she coaches basketball at West Virginia Wesleyan.
3. Tara Heiss - Basketball
On the hardwood, Heiss became Maryland's first-ever ACC Tournament MVP in 1978 and led her team to an ACC Championship in the same year. While she represented her university proudly, Heiss also represented her country on the court as well during the 1980 Olympics, 1981 World University Games and at the United States' Pan American Games in 1979.
4. Kate Kauffman - Field Hockey (1993-1996)
Kauffman is arguably one of the best women's field hockey players ever. Her time at Maryland included a national championship in 1993 and her becoming a first-team All-American twice. Kauffman has also represented the United States multiple times in the Olympics since 1996. Recently, Kauffman has made her way back to College Park as an assistant for the Terps, helping other young field hockey players who may have once been inspired by her.
5. Carla Tagliente - Field Hockey (1997 - 2000)
Tagliente is easily one of the most decorated athletes in Maryland athletics history. She was a three-time All-American for the Terrapins and helped the university to a national championship in 1999. Tagliente also was a four-time All-ACC selection, three-time ACC Champion, ACC Rookie of the Year in 1997 and was an ACC Tournament MVP in 1999.
6. Keri Sarver - Soccer (1995 - 1998)
Sarver was a two-time All-ACC pick and an All-American in 1998 while with Maryland for her play on the field. Sarver helped lead the Terrapins to the NCAA Tournament four times before graduating in 1999. In 2002, she was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team. After her time in College Park, she played for several teams in the United Soccer Leagues W-League and was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team pool. Sarver has also coached in the collegiate ranks and the USNWT since ending her playing career.
7. Katie O'Donnell Bam - Field Hockey (2007 - 2010)
Bam helped lead Maryland to two national championships in both 2008 and 2010 as a striker. Her achievements as a Terrapin includes being a two-time National Offensive MVP, three-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year, three-time All-American and two-time NCAA All-Tournament team member. She also was a member of the U.S. Olympic Field Hockey Team in both 2012 and 2016. Currently, she serves as the field hockey assistant coach for Harvard University.
8. Kristi Toliver - Basketball (2005 - 2009)
Toliver was one of the key players on the 2006 National Championship winning basketball team for the University of Maryland. She is probably known the most for her game tieing three-pointer with only seconds left that sent the Terps and Duke into overtime. She was the ACC Player in 2009 with Maryland, before going third overall in the WNBA draft that year. She is a two-time WMBA champion with the Washington Mystics and became a Washington Wizards assistant during the 2018 NBA season.
9. Taylor Cummings - Lacrosse (2013 - 2016)
Cummings was the nation's top recruit when she joined the University of Maryland's women's lacrosse team in the 2013 season. She would help the Terrapins win back-to-back national championships in 2014 and 2015. Cummings has also played for the Baltimore Ride in the UWLX.
10. Crystal Langhorne - Basketball (2004 - 2008)
Langhorne is another player on this list that was a part of the 2006 championship basketball team. The 33-year-old still plays in the WNBA, as well as overseas. As a Terrapin, she became the 2008 ACC Player of the Year. She is also a two-time WNBA all-star.
Title IX was put into law in 1972, causing colleges and schools across the nation to make more equal and available sports programs for women through the law of the United States.
While we only named ten female athletes on this list, there are countless women on the field -- coaches, players and support staff -- that have made a difference in the University of Maryland's Athletic Department and for countless other colleges, high schools and youth sports programs across the country.
It may have taken a law to help advance women's sports, but the female athletes who have played in a variety of sports since are working hard to make sure these opportunities don't go away and continue to grow.
The "Fearless Women" campaign runs up until and through National Girls and Women Sports Day on February 5.
You can learn more about Maryland's Fearless Women campaign here.
RELATED: 'Big Truss' in Baltimore: How the catchphrase for Ravens players has taken on a life of its own
RELATED: Biggest sports moments of the 2010s
