Advocate for Female Athletes

Two days ago, the Chicago Sky won their first ever WNBA championship title! The stands sold out every night during the series and you can’t scroll through social media without seeing the final 10 seconds and the celebration afterward (well, at least I can’t). Though, even with all the excitement, the big win and a parade that was held today for the team, fans can’t seem to get merchandise like shirts and jerseys anywhere! According to a Chicago Tribune article “Cheryl Bernard said she and her daughter Taylor, 12, have been looking for Candace Parker and Kahleah Copper jerseys since August, with no luck — even at the shop at Wintrust Arena when they went to Sky games.” In 2019, fans of the Women’s National Soccer Team had the same issue and after talking to a swim parent this weekend, the same was true when it came to wanting a Simone Manuel shirt at the 2016 Olympic Trials! Female and male sports are rife with inequities at every level. Pay gaps are staggering, coverage is minimal for women and stereotypes abound - not to mention access and discrimination. With a team of over 50% female athletes (yup, I’m talking about WILD!), we have an entire generation of young women to inspire in sports! We owe it to them to see that these inequities are being solved and can advocate for women’s sports in some really simple ways. Click here for a list of 5 things you can do now. Looking to get more involved? The Women’s Sports Foundation is a great place to start!

Photo credit: Chicago Sky Twitter