A vibrant movement we celebrate annually, NGWSD honors the achievements of women athletes, coaches and leaders, and the power of sports to unlock their limitless potential.
Communities across the country are hosting events in conjunction with the NGWSD celebration. Even if your event is virtual or if February 4 doesn’t fit your calendar – make sure to post your event today!
NGWSD recognizes the girls and women committed to creating a more equitable women’s sports ecosystem!
I truly believe access to sports, both as a young child and professionally, has given me the confidence, resilience, work ethic, and humble spirit that benefits me in every aspect of my life. I’ve grown so much as an individual and created relationships that will be in my life forever.
Title IX created a foundation that allowed me to access sports growing up, but that access didn’t always come with equal resources. In track, I trained on the same track as the boys, but events like the 400m hurdles weren’t offered across our district, which directly impacted me as a hurdler. In basketball, our girls’ team never practiced on a regulation court, unlike the boys. Outside school, I often relied on open gym hours, which inherently favored boys and men, and the concept of a "girls’ open gym" was nonexistent. While I had a woman coach in track, I rarely saw Black women in leadership, which shaped what I believed was possible for myself. Now, in my work advocating for sports equity, I see clearly that Title IX was just the beginning. The real work is making sure sport is joyful, culturally responsive, and welcoming to all girls, women, and gender-expansive athletes. That requires systems change, authentic allyship, and co-conspirators who are committed to transforming the culture of sport.
It’s wild to think that National Girls & Women in Sports Day turns 40 this year. I turn 40 in October, so I’m truly a Title IX baby, having grown up right alongside it. That marker is both powerful and sobering. While we’ve come a long way, there are still women like my shero and friend Coach Alicia Berber at Riverside City College who are fighting daily just to play, coach, and feel safe and valued in sport. A day like this matters because it fills our collective tank. It gives us a moment to celebrate progress, amplify victories, and build the community we need to sustain this work. I want girls, especially those from Black and Brown communities, to see themselves so they can dream themselves. This platform shines a light on the leaders and role models doing the work, helping girls in every space—urban, suburban, and rural—envision their place in the sports world.
For me, the future of women’s sports is rooted in one word: belonging. That continues to be the North Star in all of my work. I hope for a world where girls and women, especially those navigating multiple identities, feel seen, affirmed, and free to explore sports in ways that spark joy and confidence. Whether they play competitively or recreationally, they deserve spaces that allow them to fall in love with themselves as athletes. Sports, when done right, can be a place of healing, identity, and growth. But to get there, we must reimagine who leads, who funds, who decides, and who is celebrated. That means centering voices that have been historically marginalized and reshaping the sports landscape, which still skews hypermasculine, heteronormative, cisgender, and white, into one that reflects the full, expansive beauty of our communities.
GLORIA – My favorite sports memory is when my synchronized ice skating team got 3rd place in our 1st competition, because it felt like all our practice really paid off! My favorite women’s sports athlete is Simone Biles because she is very inspiring.
OLIVIA – My favorite sports memory was when I first auditioned for the synchro ice skating team, I was so scared but my new teammate supported me and I felt a lot more confident and less nervous trying out for the team. My other favorite sports memory was the first time my synchronized skating team placed in a competition because it felt good to be recognized for our hard work and inspired us to keep working together to get better as a team to place higher in competitions. My favorite women’s sports athlete is Simone Biles, to me she is a legendary figure, role model and I look up to her.
Title IX opened the door for me to play sports and helped shape my entire life.
As a girl, I was a direct beneficiary of Title IX. Sports were a part of my life from a very young age, and because of this legislation (and the leaders who have fought to uphold and enforce it) there were very few barriers in my way. Because I had the opportunity to play, I gained so much more than athletic experience. I built confidence. I learned how to lead and work as part of a team. I developed healthy habits and a strong sense of self.
Today, I am an entrepreneur, a writer, a business owner, and a leader in the women’s sports industry, working to drive investment into women’s sports and with the goal of creating more opportunities for women & girls. Sports have given me so much, and through my work, I hope to pay it forward by opening doors for the next generation. I am who I am today because of sports, and I am forever grateful that Title IX exists and helped shape me into the woman I am today.
Title IX has played a huge role in creating opportunities for girls like me to compete in sports, especially wrestling. Growing up, I was the only girl on my wrestling team. It was challenging at times to feel like I truly belonged, but because of Title IX, that’s starting to change. More schools now have girls’ wrestling programs, and I’ve been able to compete in all-girls tournaments and watch the sport grow around me. Title IX has opened doors not just for me, but for the next generation of girls who won’t have to be the only one on the team, they’ll have teammates, support, and a place on the mat from the very beginning.
It’s important to have a day like National Girls & Women in Sports Day because it recognizes the hard work, dedication, and resilience of female athletes who have often had to fight for their place in sports. For girls like me, who grew up as the only female wrestler on the team, it’s a powerful reminder that we’re not alone, that there’s a growing community of strong, talented women paving the way. Celebrating this day brings visibility to our achievements, highlights the progress made through efforts like Title IX, and reminds us that there’s still work to do to ensure equal opportunities in every sport. It’s not just a celebration, it’s motivation to keep pushing forward.
For the future of women’s sports, I hope to see true equality in opportunities, resources, and recognition. I want girls to grow up knowing they belong in any sport they choose, not as an exception, but as the norm. In wrestling, I hope to see more schools offering girls’ programs, more scholarships, and more visibility for female athletes at every level. I also want to see more women in leadership roles such as coaches, referees, and administrators, who can mentor and inspire the next generation. Most of all, I hope we continue building a sports culture where female athletes are valued, respected, and celebrated just as much as their male counterparts
I began playing softball at the young age of six. Initially, it was my father’s idea to play because he wanted to share his passion for the game. From the moment I held the glove in my hand, I felt a special connection to the game and my father. As years passed, I played different sports, but softball was what I gravitated to.
Playing softball has allowed me to travel to many places and provided me with many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, such as participating in a cultural exchange program in Cuba, representing Puerto Rico in the Junior National Team in the Women’s World Cup 19U, and studying and playing softball at Cornell University. The collegiate student-athlete, especially, life has taught me so many lessons and skills that have challenged me to grow as a person.
Sports give women an incredible platform to showcase their strength and their athleticism. I’m so thankful to have had amazing women athlete role models such as my mom who played multiple D3 sports.
Being exposed to sports at such a young age changed my life for the better and it helped me create a path for more girls and women of my community to dream big too. From the moment I decided to train for my first marathon at the age of 16, sports enabled me to believe in myself, to dream big, to be more confident and push my imaginary "limits".
Resources for 2026 are now available! Please contact Morgan Powell at MPowell@WomensSportsFoundation.org with any questions.
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