Betsy is a full-blooded Native American Nottoway Indian. The first chapter of the book describes her adoption from a children's home by her adopting parents, the Ramseys. She lives with her adopting parents near the College of William & Mary in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Her father teaches history there. One day riding her bike home from grade school she encounters some college girls playing lacrosse on the university field. One of them, Charlotte, gives her a lacrosse stick and and ball and teaches her how to cradle the ball and then throw it. Betsy practices throwing against a wall of a college building. Unfortunately, she breaks a window in the building when she trips over a stone. She is brought before the president, vice-president, and coach of the women's lacrosse team. The president rewards her honesty by politely forgiving the mistake, much to the chagrin of the stern vice-president, whose window she accidentally broke. She learns of a lacrosse game to be played by her college friends and Sweet Briar College, another college in Virginia. Played in 1941, it would be the first intercollegiate women's lacrosse game in the U.S. On the day of the big game, Betsy is on the sidelines to cheer on her friends. Her teacher lets her out of school that day. She brings her stick to the game. One of her friends is injured during the game, and instead of forfeiting, Charlotte asks Betsy if she would be willing to play in this historic college game. While admitting to be sacred, Betsy also has the courage to answer yes. Her adventures start there.