Hnida kicked two extra points for New Mexico in a 72–8 win over Texas State, becoming the first woman to score in a Division I-A football game.
On August 30, 2003, Katie Hnida achieved one of the most celebrated milestones in the history of women's participation in American football. Playing as placekicker for the University of New Mexico Lobos in their season-opening game against Texas State, Hnida successfully converted two extra-point kicks during a lopsided 72–8 victory, becoming the first woman ever to score in an NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) football game.
The achievement came after years of determined effort, including a difficult transfer from the University of Colorado, where Hnida later revealed she had endured harassment and sexual assault from teammates — a disclosure that would spark a national conversation about the treatment of women in college athletics. At New Mexico, under a more supportive coaching environment, she earned a legitimate role on the special teams unit and delivered on the field.
Her two extra points were more than statistical footnotes; they represented the shattering of a barrier that had stood since the inception of major college football. National media, including ESPN, covered the achievement widely, and it remains one of the most frequently cited milestones in the history of women in football. Her cleats and jersey from this era are preserved in the College Football Hall of Fame. Hnida's on-field scoring feat directly inspired subsequent generations of women, including Sarah Fuller, who would later become the first woman to play in a Power Five conference game.