In recent years, women’s sports has come a long way. Athletes across a range of sports, from basketball to F1 racing, have broken records and charted their own paths in sports typically dominated by men. Live sports viewership has started to explode: the 2024 NCAA women’s championship game was the most watched basketball game – at any level – since 2019. The women’s sports fandom has skyrocketed, which comes with better merch, coverage, and most importantly, salaries for the players.
And yet, there’s still much work to be done. Women athletes have fought, and continue to fight, for equal pay, maternity rights and protections, respect, recognition, and more.
Ahead of International Women’s Day, we asked our favorite women athletes – who’ve been a part of this history in one way or another – to share what they hope for the future of women’s sports. Below, check out powerful words from legends like tennis pro Coco Gauff, the youngest woman winner in US Open history; Olympic gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, who’ve brought home multiple medals for team USA; and Gabby Thomas, the second-fastest woman in history in the 200-meter.
