In this paper I discuss the lesbian label and its role in collegiate women's basketball. I focus on the perspective of female student athletes in southern California, their experiences and understandings of how they were treated and their feelings that resulted from that. These recollections include perceptions of the coaches, universities, teammates, family and other lesbian players. I have compared studies previously done on this topic and examine if there has been a change over time in society's position toward these athletes. My main goal was to address the lesbian label and determine if it had an effect on the women's choices during the crucial teenage years of finding one's identity and during the early adult stages while establishing oneself as an adult.
