Women’s sports are no longer on the sidelines. We’ve witnessed icons become champions, break records and break social norms. Women’s sports gained viewership when the status went up and they broke records. However, before all of this, women had to fight to compete or just to play in anything in the 19th century.
Women ended up fighting for Title IX and The Education Act started June 23, 1972, allowing equal opportunity for women in sports. The high school level sports participants went from 295,000 in 1971 to 7.8 million in 2022-23.
“We are seeing how strong women are and how they really can dominate and change the world of sports,” GCHS volleyball coach Rachel Bicknase notes.
Women’s sports as we know them today started gaining recognition in the 19th century. In the late 1800s, women began in tennis and golf. The tennis match “Battle of the Sexes” is a woman and man head-to-head in 1973 held at the Houston Astrodome. Billie Jean King won in three sets, making a rise in the United States and how they see women’s sports. Billie inspired young female athletes, who became the athletes who now inspire young girls today.
The viewership for women’s sports broadcasts has increased by 50% over the last 5 years. Major sporting events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup have seen an increase in their audience. The World Cup Tournament in 2019 had over 1 billion viewership worldwide, which is a huge jump compared to previous years. The WNBA has also reported growth and their viewership; stream numbers have all increased within five years. With the attention gained, brands have gravitated to sign on strong women like Caitlin Clark, Simone Biles, Chloe Kim and many more.
Scholarships for women athletes have also changed over time. In the past, women athletes have received far less scholarships and financial support compared to men. However, recently this has started to shift. Women recognize the value of women and are actively supporting them. This change is driven by the growing audience for women’s sports and the increase on social media women’s sports have.
