Dorothy Benoit

From Hoopedia

Dorothy Benoit (b. 11 July 1905, Chicago – d. 12 August 1990, Chicago), a women's amateur and semi-professional basketball player of the 1920s and 1930s. The 5-foot 4-inch Benoit most notably played guard for the Taylor Trunks, a semi-professional team that toured the country and ranked among the most famous women's teams in the history of women's basketball.

Benoit was born and raised in Chicago, began playing competitive basketball after high school, playing both for the St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church team and the Lake View Community Girls in 1923-24. The St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church girls team was one of the most successful church teams in Chicago, winning the championship of the Church League in 1928.

The Lake View Community Girls became the Tri-Chis in the 1925-26 season, and the following year the Taylor Trunk Tri-Chis. For the Trunks in the 1926-27 season Benoit served as a substitute guard, and defeated the London, Ontario, team 28-6 in the Broadway Armory, in Chicago. The following year, the team name shortened to simply the Taylor Trunks, Benoit was on the team that defeated the Cleveland Aces for the national championship at the Broadway Armory, 17-11; and repeated as national champs in 1929, beating the Aces, 16-8, in the Broadway Armory. Benoit ended her basketball career with the Taylor Trunks in the 1932-33 season, one year before the Taylor Trunks disbanded (a different Taylor Trunks team revived the name for one season, 1938-39).

Benoit ended her playing career after ten years of competition, and married, becoming Dorothy Benoit Curtin. She also played in professional softball competition.