On June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed into law the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act (commonly known as Title IX), which prohibits gender-based discrimination in any school or education program that receives federal funds. A year later, Dr. Donnis Thompson, who helped Congresswoman Mink write the Title IX legislation, was named the University of Hawai'i's first women's athletics director.
 
Her annual budget? $5,000.
 
Since those humble beginnings, Rainbow Wahine teams and individual student-athletes have garnered league championships, national rankings, All-America honors and, yes, even national titles. Along the way, thousands of young women at UH-Manoa have had the opportunity to further their education, compete in the sports they love and create memories to last a lifetime.
 
Here is a (very) subjective list of 12 of the greatest student-athletes to ever wear a Rainbow Wahine uniform:

ROBYN AH MOW (Volleyball). A two-time First-Team AVCA All-American, Ah Mow helped lead the Rainbow Wahine to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 1996 national championship match. She remains third in the program's career list for total assists. After UH, Ah Mow served on the U.S. National Team for 10 years and captained the U.S. to a silver medal finish in the 2008 games in Beijing. Now the head coach of the Rainbow Wahine, Ah Mow was named Big West Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2021. She was inducted into the school's Circle of Honor in 2005.



JEANNE CHILDS (Swimming). Perhaps the greatest swimmer in UH history, Childs was last year honored by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association as one of the "top 100 swimmers and divers of all time." The Denver, Colorado native swam for UH from 1981 to 1983 after transferring from the University of Texas. As a Rainbow Wahine, Childs set new national records in the breaststroke and placed first in both the 100- and 200-yard events at the 1983 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. She was inducted into the school's Circle of Honor in 2002. 



NANI COCKETT (Basketball). Legendary Rainbow Wahine head coach Vince Goo called Cockett "the best player to [ever] come out of Hawai'i." The numbers back him up. Cockett, who played at UH from 1993 to 1998, is all over the school's record book, placing in the Top 5 in career points, scoring average, field goals, three-pointers, steals and 20-point games. She was a two-time All-WAC First Team selection. An All-American in her senior season, the versatile guard led UH to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Cockett later spent time with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. 



DEITRE COLLINS (Volleyball). Perhaps the most decorated student-athlete in the history of the Rainbow Wahine, Collins led Hawai'i to back-to-back NCAA championships (1982 and 1983). The talented middle blocker was a three-time All-American and was awarded the 1983 Broderick Cup as the country's top female collegiate athlete. Collins finished her four/year UH career ranking in the Top 10 in all-time kills, kill percentage, kills per game, solo blocks and blocks per game. She later played on the 1988 U.S. Olympic team. She was inducted into the school's Circle of Honor in 1989. 



NATASHA KAI (Soccer). Kai made an instant impact as a Rainbow Wahine, becoming the first soccer player in WAC history to win both conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year honors (2002). The former Kahuku standout also became the first three-time WAC Player of the Year award winner. The relentless forward led Hawai'i to conference titles in 2003 and 2005 and remains the school's record holder in numerous categories, including career goals (72). After UH, Kai helped the U.S. Olympic team capture gold in the 2008 Games in Beijing. She is the only women's soccer player inducted into the school's Circle of Honor, entering in the Class of 2011. 



AMBER KAUFMAN (Track and Field, Volleyball). Kaufman was a two-sport standout in Manoa. In volleyball, the middle blocker was an AVCA All-American and two-time All-WAC First Team selection. In her senior campaign in 2009, she led the Rainbow Wahine to the NCAA Final Four. In track and field, Kaufman was victorious at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, capturing the high jump event with a winning height of six feet, 1.25 inches. She also was bestowed the Joe Kearney Award, given to the WAC's top student-athlete and was inducted into the school's Circle of Honor in 2021. 



GWEN LOUD (Track and Field). On a perfect June day in 1984, Loud became the first UH women's track and field athlete to win an individual NCAA title, capturing the long jump event with a leap of 22 feet, five and ¾ inches – more than eight inches further than her previous personal best. The All-American used her championship as a springboard to the U.S. Olympic Trials in her hometown of Los Angeles. Loud also competed in the World University Games, Pan American Games and World Championships. She was inducted into the school's Circle of Honor in 1999. 



KELLY MAJAM-ELMS (Softball). As a freshman, Majam-Elms was one of the primary catalysts of the 2010 Rainbow Wahine team that advanced to the program's first-ever Women's College World Series. That season, she set new school and WAC single-season records, leading the NCAA with 30 home runs. She was the first Rainbow Wahine to earn ESPN.com All-America honors. Majam-Elms followed up her stunning rookie season with more outstanding play both at the plate on the field, capping her senior season with the 2013 Big West Defensive Player of the Year Award. That year, she was also nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. 



JUDY MOSLEY-McAFEE (Basketball). Regarded as the most dominant player in the history of Rainbow Wahine hoops, Mosley-McAfee finished her UH career (1986-1989) with 2,479 points and 1,141 rebounds – the most ever for both the women's and men's programs. The 6'1" forward led the Rainbow Wahine in both scoring and rebounding for all four years, averaging a double-double each season. The two-time All-American also led UH to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1997, she was drafted by the Sacramento Monarchs in the first round of the inaugural WNBA Draft. She was inducted into the school's Circle of Honor in 1997 and her jersey number (#32) was officially retired in 2015. 



MOLLY O'BRYAN (Sailing). The Rainbow Wahine enjoyed "smooth sailing" with O'Bryan leading the way. The three-time ICSA All-American skipper helped UH capture the Women's National Championship in 2001 and a runner-up finish in 2002. After UH, O'Bryan joined the U.S. Sailing National Team and represented the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She is the only sailor inducted into the school's Circle of Honor, entering in the Class of 2015. 



MAUREEN O'TOOLE (Swimming). O'Toole no doubt excelled as a Rainbow Wahine swimmer, earning All-American honors in 1983 and 1984. She was even better in the sport of water polo, however (UH didn't field a water polo team until 1998). "Mo" went on to enjoy a 21-year career with the U.S. National Water Polo Team, leading Team USA to a silver medal finish at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. She was a 15-time U.S. National Championship MVP and a six-time World Championship MVP. O'Toole was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2003 and the school's Circle of Honor in 2012. 



CINDY RARICK (Golf). In November 1978, UH freshman Cindy Rarick (then Cindy Flom) made headlines after she won the Hawai'i State Women's Golf Association Match Play Championship. After that, Rarick parlayed her success as a Rainbow Wahine into a 24-year career on the LPGA Tour. She earned five Tour wins in all, including a two-stroke victory over Jane Geddes at the 1987 Tsumura Hawaiian Ladies Open.