>> National girls, women and sport day.

It's all encompassing.

We honor the past.

We highlight the accomplishments of females in sport.

But it's ultimately about empowering our young women to be as great as they possibly can.

>> There were moments where we highlighted all the sports teams, female sports teams.

They were recognized at halftime.

In the back court there were activities and games for fans to be able to engage with female student athletes here.

But I would say the most important thing that happened that day was being able to honor Kathrine Switzer.

>> Ladies and gentlemen, please turn your attention to section 312 where Kathrine Switzer's Boston Marathon bib number 261 will be raised in the JMA Wireless Dome rafters.

>> Aside from being a pioneer and trail blazer, she was someone who broke down a barrier.

>> When I arrived at Syracuse University, I thought that sports existed at Syracuse for women but it didn't.

I asked the men's coach of the cross-country team if I could run and run on the men's cross-country team.

>> A girl showed up.

Me.

And he didn't hesitate to take me under his wing and help me and train me for my dream, which was to run the Boston Marathon.

>> So I signed the entry form, K.D.

Switzer, which is the way I sign my name.

They thought I was a guy.

They gave me a bib number and the rest is history.

The official attacked me in the race for being a girl.

And tried to throw me out and I went on to finish.

It was hard.

It was very hard because people were not really accepting the fact that a woman was in the race and was going to go the distance.

>> When I was born, that's when Title IX was first established.

Just seeing the growth of not just women's basketball, but sports in general, there is visibility.

We are able to tell our story.

And you can't be what you can't see.

>> It was Arnie who assisted that I officially enter the race.

He said it doesn't count unless you are official.

Well, a lot of women have realized for a long time, it doesn't count if you are not official.

We are going to be official.

>> When I graduated from college, there was no wnba, so to see where the wnba is now, our student athletes can look past college and they can dream big.

>> It is absolutely fantastic to see the media coming forward for women and publicizing, broadcasting their events and creating sponsorships and creating a way, a woman as an athlete, can earn a living just like a guy.

The next step is going to be watching women purchase the teams, who are going to take financial control.

Women then can be in powerful leadership positions to look at the future.

I mean you keep putting one foot in front of the other, you are going to get there.

Be persistent, show up and never give up.