New York ? Former Kansas University basketball standout Lynette Woodard was honored at the opening ceremony Monday night at the U.S. Open.

The ceremony, entitled “Breaking Barriers,” featured more than 15 African-American female pioneers from the fields of sports, entertainment, politics and the arts in a special on-court celebration of former tennis great Althea Gibson’s life and career.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Gibson’s victory at the U.S. Open. Woodard was honored as the first female member of the Harlem Globetrotters.