Women in sports – an unpopular sight even till a few years ago. But, the times have changed and the acceptance of female sports players. Previously any sport was majorly dominated by men and didn’t receive much support. It’s not like women didn’t play sports, though. They were present in sports like football, tennis, cricket and more. But the spotlight wasn’t on them until now. Finally, female sportspersons are getting the recognition and fame they deserve across various platforms.
Why Are Female Sports on the Rise?
Women’s sports are on the rise due to various factors and elements. A recent Nielsen survey on female participation in sports statistics revealed the core factors. They include:
- Women’s sports athletes have been found to be more inspirational than men athletes.
- Women sports persons have a more progressive image.
- The public perception of men athletes is that they are more money-driven than women in sports.
- Female sportspersons are thought to be more family-oriented than men.
- Women in sports tend to be cleaner than their male counterparts.
The listed reasons are quite spotlight-friendly, but the actual reason lies deeper. Women were the oppressed gender for years on end. In the last couple of decades, the women’s rights and gender equality movements have increased significantly.
Overview of Popular Women Sports
In this section, we’ll be going through a quick rundown of women in sports who seriously impacted the sporting world. We’ve taken some of the most popular women’s sports for this. Let’s now look at the most famous women in the sport.
Football
One of the stars with the highest stats ratings in women’s football is Alexia Putellas. Putellas is a professional Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Barcelona and the national team. She has won numerous titles with FC Barcelona, including six Primera División titles, five Copa de la Reina trophies, and one UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Putellas was also named the Spanish Footballer of the Year in 2020. In 2021, she became the initial player to receive the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year accolade and also secured the Ballon d’Or Feminin for two consecutive years. Additionally, in May of the same year, she achieved another milestone by being the first player from her team to lift the UEFA Women’s Champions League Cup.
Basketball
One of the most famous names in basketball is Cynthia Cooper. She is a former professional basketball player and coach from the United States. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time, having won numerous accolades throughout her career, including four WNBA championships and two Olympic gold medals. She is a two-time WNBA MVP. Cooper was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Her achievements include:
- Four WNBA championship titles.
- Two Olympic gold medals.
- Two-time WNBA MVP.
- Five-time EuroLeague Women’s champion.
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Tennis
Serena Williams is a US tennis player who is widely regarded as a great athlete. Overall, she won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, has immense influence, the most by any player in the Open Era, and has 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. Williams also won four Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles and one in women’s singles.
She has broken numerous records throughout her career and held the world’s No. 1 rank in women’s singles eight times. Williams is known for her powerful serve, athletic ability, and the spirit of competition, inspiring generations of young tennis players worldwide.
Golf
Annika Sorenstam is a retired Swedish professional golfer known as one of the best female golfers in history. During her career, she won a total of 72 LPGA Tour events, including ten significant championships along the course of her career. She was the dominant player on the women’s tour in the late 1990s and early 2000s and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003.
After retiring from competitive golf in 2008, Sorenstam has remained active in the sport, including serving as a television commentator and designing match-worthy golf courses.
Some of her most notable achievements include:
- 72 LPGA Tour victories, third most all-time.
- Ten major championships, tied for third in the table most all-time.
- Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003
- Eight LPGA Tour Player of the Year Awards.
- Six Vare trophies for lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour.
- Named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press three times (in 2003, 2004, and 2005).
- Played on eight Solheim Cup teams (a biennial golf tournament between teams from Europe and the United States) and served as captain of the European team in 2017.
- Designed multiple golf courses, including one in her native Sweden.
- Served as a television commentator and analyst for the Golf Channel and NBC Sports.
Conclusion
Overall, female sports persons being highlighted today is a fantastic sign of progress. They deserve the respect and praise they are getting, and the foundation for gender-neutral sports is being built in history as you read this. We believe in and encourage women to participate in sports more and more. The world is changing, and opportunities are readily available for everyone!
FAQ
1. What are some of the challenges that women face in sports?
Women in sports face a range of challenges, including unequal pay, limited sponsorship and media coverage opportunities, and gender stereotypes that suggest that they are less physically capable than men. Additionally, female athletes often face sexism and harassment from coaches, teammates, and fans.
2. How have opportunities for women in sports changed over time?
While women have been participating in sports for centuries, opportunities for female athletes have been limited until recently. In the 20th century, women’s sports began to gain more recognition, but progress could have been faster. However, in the 21st century, significant strides have been made in expanding women’s sports opportunities, such as creating professional leagues and including more women’s sports in major international competitions.
3. What benefits do women gain from participating in sports?
Participating in sports can offer women numerous physical and mental benefits. Physically, regular exercise can help prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease and osteoporosis, and improve overall fitness and strength. Mentally, sports participation can boost self-esteem, reduce stress and anxiety, and provide a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, playing sports can help women develop leadership and teamwork skills that can be applied in other areas.
