The Rise of Women’s Sports
Maya Bartleson | April 18, 2024
In my eyes, 2023 will always be the year that women’s sports exploded onto the scene. But why did it take over half a decade to reach this point?
I have been playing sports for as long as I can remember. At five years old, I was recognizable on the soccer field with my pink knee-high socks and cleats — even donning a bow in my hair.
At six years old, I was the only girl on my t-ball team.
By seven, I had fallen in love with my first sport, cheerleading, which I competed in for eight years before pursuing the sport I’m now playing in college: volleyball.
Title IX was passed in 1972, a landmark moment that granted all girls the equal opportunity to participate in college sports. Over the past 52 years, women have been the epitome of resilience, paving the way for future generations of college athletes. Their journey was not easy. It was a battle — filled with unequal treatment, degrading comments, and constant comparison to men's sports.
Yet, they persevered, always keeping sight of their goal.
My love for sports goes well beyond just playing. My favorite memories with my dad are sitting on the couch watching whatever sport was in season. I’ve spent most of my life being a “girl in sports.” Although that comes with a lifetime of cherished memories, it also comes with a lifetime of belittling comments and fighting to be heard.
My first memory of this was in fifth grade. I was playing basketball during recess, and the boys talked about the Seattle Seahawks game that had been played the night before.
I stayed up past bedtime with my dad to watch my favorite team. I was knowledgeable about football then, especially for a fifth grader. Yet when I went to talk about the Hail Mary Russel Wilson threw in the third quarter, I was immediately shot down. The boys looked at me and said, “Can you even name two players?”
I shrugged it off then but remember thinking, “Why wouldn’t I know two players?”
As time went on, I committed to playing collegiate volleyball in December 2022. Then, the new year rolled around, and female athletes had no idea that their world was going to turn around.
With attendance records broken by thousands and female athletes like Angel Reese and Aija O’Neal becoming household names, the stage had been set. Female sports were finally getting the media coverage and recognition they deserved.
The 2024 March Madness was one for the books. With the biggest names in basketball going against each other, people were dying to see the action. The Iowa vs. UConn game, highlighting Paige Buekers and Caitlin Clark, brought in 12.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s basketball game ever — surpassing multiple sports viewers records of any gender.
While it is true that women have had the right to “equal opportunity” for the past 52 years, much of that time was spent playing catch up and fighting for our proper, equal rights.
However, the year 2023 marked a significant turning point. It was a year of triumph for women’s sports, a year that showcased our potential and power. As we look to the future, we can be certain that our future generations of collegiate athletes will continue to shatter records and show the world why women’s sports are truly equal.