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Imagine it's June 1904. You're a St. Louis sportswriter covering the world's fair and the first American Olympic Games.

You've seen some incredible feats of athleticism over the past several weeks, which you've never seen anything like what you're watching now.

You're sitting in bleachers, overlooking a plaza outside the fair's model Indian school.

It's been turned into a makeshift basketball court for a group of Indian girls from Port Shaw Montana.

They're playing an exhibition game, and their style of play leaves you a slack job.

The girls move up and down the court with blinding speed, passing the ball and scoring with incredible ease.

The man in the seat next to you notices you scribbling on your pet, leans over.

Newspaper man, huh? Well, I tell you what you can print in your paper.

Young girls don't belong on display like this, especially not Indian girls.

They should stick to basket weaving, not basketball.

But not everyone agrees with your neighbor.

A cheer goes up from the crowd as the tallest girl on the team makes a jump shot and a whistle brings the game to an end.

As the crowd disperses, you clamor down the bleachers toward the sidelines.

Excuse me, excuse me, ladies. I'm a reporter for the St. Louis Republic.

Perhaps I could talk to one of you, get a couple of quotes?

The girls glance at each other and snicker, then push someone forward.

She's got her hair tied back and is fanning herself with her rolled up newspaper.

You guess she's about 18, but there's a defiant gleam in her eye that makes her seem much older.

And what's your name? Nettie Worth.

Well, Nettie, that game was very impressive.

How do you and your teammates feel playing in front of such a large audience?

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