The women’s sports world has always been filled with engaging athletes and talented teams, but in recent years, they’ve finally been getting the hype and attention that they deserve. Whether it’s an MVP and record-breaking season from A’ja Wilson or an incredible goal from hockey legend Marie-Philip Poulin, women’s sports are becoming more and more successful. Leagues such as the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) and the PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) have been on the rise and growing in popularity. The leagues have also done a great job of building fanbases and popularity.
The PWHL, for example, is doing a “Takeover Tour”. The six PWHL teams; the Toronto Sceptres, the Montréal Victoire, the Ottawa Charge, the Minnesota Frost, the Boston Fleet, and the New York Sirens, are playing in rinks throughout Canada and America, in cities without teams, growing the women’s hockey audience. In a recent game, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, the PWHL gathered a crowd of 14,018 fans. Fans even chanted, asking for the PWHL to add an expansion team for Denver, Colorado. A huge part of the growing success of these leagues is due to their talented stars. Many of their stars have become household names. In the WNBA, A’ja Wilson, Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart, and Caitlin Clark are completing highlight-reel plays, and contributing to the growing audience. In the PWHL, stars like Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Nurse, Brianne Jenner, Hilary Knight, Taylor Heise, and Alex Carpenter are producing clutch goals and exciting highlights.
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While female athletes have always been extremely talented, I believe that the growing excitement and audience for women’s sports has a lot to do with the increase in media coverage of them. I firmly believe that women’s sports still aren’t getting equal coverage and media attention to men’s sports, which needs to desperately change. That being said, they’re getting more coverage now than they’ve ever received, in the past. I attribute some of this growth and increasing success to the media coverage, especially on social media platforms. Sports accounts, such as ESPN, Sportsnet, TSN, etc. are finally posting highlights and clips from games. This allows for fans to repost these clips/videos, leading to these sports getting more exposure and viewership. This, as we know, is how fanbases grow.
Women’s sports aren’t just growing at the professional level, though, they’re also growing at the collegiate level. Take Paige Bueckers, from the UConn Huskies, for example. The anticipated first overall pick, in this year’s WNBA draft, has gained a ton of popularity these past few years. She has fans all over the country, while still being in college. This is why, as students, we should try our hardest to support our women’s teams. Whether it’s attending games, reposting highlights on social media, or simply spreading the word, it helps give women’s sports, and athletes, the recognition and respect they deserve. We should all do our part in contributing to the rise and success of women’s sports. So please, go support Pace’s women’s teams!
(Photo Credit: Sophia Maselli)
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