For the past couple of years, women’s sports have seen a large incline in popularity. Many sports have begun to initiate and develop professional, amateur, collegiate and even youth leagues for women. This inclusivity is extremely vital and beneficial to the growth of these sports and the opportunities that women did not have in the past.
Jan. 1 marked the official opening of the first ever Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) season. While other professional hockey leagues for women have existed, a majority are not very well known. However, the PWHL has already shown promising success in its first month. Currently composed of six teams from various American states and Canadian provinces, the PWHL has made a name for itself by involving some of the best female hockey players in the world. Another key factor that sets the PWHL apart from other female professional hockey leagues is the physicality. While male hockey players are allowed to begin hitting from age 14, female hockey players have not had the same treatment. Almost all female leagues in the past have prohibited body contact that would be allowed in a male league. Adding the ability to hit opponents has brought tremendous interest to the PWHL from fans, players and media. This success brings hope to all female hockey players and female athletes alike.
“It means a lot to me that there is a great opportunity to try for after college and that it will be developed even more for younger girls. It feels amazing to see women have the chance to play and not be stuck after college,” senior hockey player Susan Nelson said.
This trend of growth and success in women’s sports can even be seen locally. For example, some of the most dominant sports teams at Freedom have been the girls teams. Girls soccer and basketball have seen extreme success in the past few years, both making it to multiple WPIAL and state championships and even winning their fair share of championships. Another example of local growth in girls sports is the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL) girls division. This division is made up of six teams: Central, East, North, Southeast, Southwest and West. These teams include many players from multiple different schools. This league, which started in 2022, allows girls to play in their own division, giving many girls an opportunity they never had before.
“With me being a girl involved in so many sports, I feel that women’s sports have a huge impact on my life and others,” senior athlete Shaye Bailey said. “So, I believe if women are making their mark on the world and setting good examples, then they should be rewarded with what they deserve.”
Gender inclusivity is crucial to the growth of any sport. It is also necessary to give girls the same opportunities that boys have when it comes to athletics. These recent movements being made all over the country have been extremely beneficial to this movement and will hopefully bring more awareness to female sports.