People: Oct. 21, 1985

Patrick Ewing will probably make more money, but Lynette Woodard, 26, is almost certain to have more fun. Calling it “the opportunity of the century,” the 5-ft. 11-in. basketball player last week became the first female member of the Harlem Globetrotters, fulfilling a longtime dream. “The Globetrotters were always special, but they were even more special to me,” explains Woodard, whose cousin is ex-Trotter Hubie (“Geese”) Ausbie. The all-time best female college scorer when she graduated in 1981 from the University of Kansas, Woodard was captain of the 1984 Olympic gold medal- winning U.S. women’s basketball team and beat out 22 other women Globetrotter contenders. She will debut when the team begins its 60th- anniversary tour in Australia this week. So far, the new guard reports, breaking the sex barrier has brought no penalties from the men, who have behaved like “gentlemen.” What, those jokers?