[1] Gunderson, the daughter of an Army colonel, was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and she lived in various other military bases during her childhood, including in post-war Germany where she began playing tennis aged 13.

[2] A diminutive player, Gunderson served as captain of the U.S. junior Wightman Cup side.

She celebrated her 21st birthday by beating the second-seeded Louise Brough at the 1955 U.S. National Championships to reach the quarterfinals.

[3] Gunderson retired as a player in 1965 and completed a doctorate at Texas Woman's University.

From 1974 to 1976, she served as the first women's athletics director for the University of Minnesota.