ACTIVISM

January 18, 2024

It’s happening, the Tour de France Femmes effect is working

On Wednesday, SD Worx announced a new addition to the front of their jerseys before the team officially kicked off the 2024 season: Protime. The “workforce-management” company sponsored the team last season but wasn’t a front-of-the-jersey sponsor. This year, they are stepping it up. According to the Protime CEO, the...

January 18, 2024

After 10 years in cycling, here’s why I am leaving the bike industry

Despite recent initiatives to bolster women who work and compete in cycling, like the Uplift mentorship program and women’s versions of the biggest races on the WorldTour calendar – Paris-Roubaix Femmes and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift–  cycling is still an tremendously male-dominated world. Some key women are leading...

January 6, 2024

Lululemon founder’s remarks have some DEI experts calling for boycotts to combat ‘regressive values’

A black woman seeking yoga gear, learned that the company’s founder, Chip Wilson, had publicly bashed the notion of the brand embracing diversity. Wilson founded Lululemon in 1998 and stepped down as CEO in 2013, but still owns the majority of the company’s shares, which are valued at $4 billion. But...during...

December 6, 2023

Olympian Brandie Wilkerson wears a red period stain in competition to break the stigma

A new #SportYourPeriod Initiative is empowering people to engage in sports fearlessly while they’re menstruating. The campaign is headed by the apparel brand Knix and Professional Beach Volleyball Olympian Brandie Wilkerson, who is sticking a red period symbol to her body during the ongoing Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour finals...

December 5, 2023

Anti-violence against women charity, Scarpetta Rossa, ties up with Giro events in Italy

The Giro d’Italia Women event, together with the Giro d’Italia and the Giro Next Gen, will support Scarpetta Rossa, which has become charity partner of the three events in Italy. The charity is involved in fighting the issue of violence against women. Scarpetta Rossa was founded in Milan in 2014....

September 5, 2023

FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning coach Vilda sacked as RFEF issues public apology after Rubiales scandal

The coach of Spain's FIFA Women's World Cup-winning team Jorge Vilda has been dismissed, on the same day the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) apologised to players of the national team for the "totally unacceptable behaviour" of its President Luis Rubiales. The RFEF has not given a specific reason for...

August 29, 2023

Michelle Obama adds her voice to those calling for pay equality in tennis

Michelle Obama used the occasion of attending the US Open showing her support for Coco Gauff alongside husband Barack Obama to add her voice to those advocating for equal pay in tennis. Tennis365

August 25, 2023

Spain’s women’s soccer team to boycott play until federation president resigns

Spain's World Cup-winning women's soccer team, La Roja, is refusing to play as long as the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, remains in his position. The statement comes after Rubiales said he would not step down from his role following his kissing of Spain's forward Jenni Hermoso...

May 11, 2023

Madrid Open apologizes for treatment of women’s tennis stars

The Madrid Open has apologized for a series of miscues in which the women’s stars received unequal treatment compared to the men’s players. The women’s doubles finalists — runners-up Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula and champions Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia — did not receive the opportunity to make...

May 9, 2023

Race organisers forced to apologise after being blasted after giving female winners sexist prizes including kitchen appliances and low-fat food

Organisers of the 19th annual Carrera de la Mujer race in Madrid have come under fire for offering 'sexist' prizes to female runners. Winners of the race were presented with kitchen appliances and low-fat food products, sparking criticism from politicians and social media users around the world. Despite the outcry, the race's organisers initially defended...

March 15, 2023

Nike and the Tucker Center Are Partnering to Keep Girls in Sport

Nike has developed a new digital coaching resource, “Coaching HER,” in partnership with the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota, a preeminent research center leading a global effort to create lasting change for girls and women in sport. WebWire

February 28, 2023

Gamechangers who will push the boundaries

They are strong, unafraid and go beyond boundaries - and not just in sporting terms: the influential women of the sports world. They are officials, NGO employees and founders, coaches, but also lawyers or presenters - and still in the minority. We looked for the most important women - and...

February 27, 2023

Exercise Is Top Treatment for Depression, Anxiety: Study

People in a study who engaged in physical activity routines for up to 12 weeks were 1.5 times more likely to see improvement in depression, anxiety, or psychological distress compared to people who were treated with therapy or leading medications. The findings should encourage medical providers to look to physical...

February 24, 2023

Three Teenagers, One Instagram Account, and a Big, Bold Plan to Change the Face of Tri

When Ayana Williams’ history teacher suggested she and her friends do a triathlon, they thought he was a bit out there. After some research, they discovered something even more surprising: 13% of triathletes are athletes of color, and only 2% are Black. Triathlete

February 17, 2023

Billie Jean King on how to grow women’s sports: “Show up. Spend money. Help them.”

On Thursday, inside a crowded event space in South Orange, a room full of eager Seton Hall Pirates and members of the North Jersey community engaged with King in what proved to be an electric conversation about sports, gender equity and what needs to be done to continue growing the...

January 25, 2023

Women-Only Trail Running Groups Are Key to Growing Female Participation in Trail and Ultrarunning

While women’s representation in running has come a long way, we are still far from seeing a 50/50 split at the start lines of ultra races in 2023. According to RunRepeat’s State of Ultrarunning’s report, 23 percent of ultra marathon participants in 2022 identified as female, as opposed to a...

January 24, 2023

Pregnant Runner Calls Out Boston Marathon’s Lack Of Maternity Policy

After a runner’s Instagram post about the Boston Marathon’s lack of a clear policy around pregnancy deferrals, the Boston Athletics Association is finally taking action. Women's Running  

January 24, 2023

Pregnant Runner Calls Out Boston Marathon’s Lack Of Maternity Policy

Elite runners are joining the calls for better maternity policies in sport, adding their voices to those in the WNBA and in soccer. WNBA All-Star forward Dearica Hamby called out the Las Vegas Aces this weekend for their “unethical” treatment of her in the wake of her pregnancy announcement. U.S....

January 23, 2023

New Campaign Aims To “Correct The Internet” & Make Sportswomen More Visible

The inconsistency of searchable facts that disadvantages sportswomen is behind a new global campaign called “Correct The Internet” which is the collective work of an international group of like-minded people that seeks to highlight and correct inaccuracies in internet search results and make sportswomen more visible as a result. B&T...

January 11, 2023

4th Annual International Women’s Day Bike Ride Spreads the Message of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

LOMBARD, Illinois /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ - On March 8-12, 2023, nonprofit Inspyrd Movement™ will be hosting their 4th annual International Women’s Day – Together We Ride™ global cycling event. As in years past, participants are encouraged to ride their bikes anywhere, any distance, outdoors or inside, in a group or solo...

January 10, 2023

The sports world is still built for men. This elite runner wants to change that

A lot of tension is created for female athletes around their body," acccording to champion distance runner Lauren Fleshman, a coach and now an activist working to promote equity in sports by recognizing the differences in male and female bodies. "There's a basic level of education that coaches need to...

December 23, 2022

House passes equal pay bill for Team USA athletes

The House this week passed a bipartisan bill that requires equal compensation for U.S. women competing in international sports competitions. The bill, called the Equal Pay for Team USA, requires that all athletes representing the U.S. in international competitions receive equal pay and benefits, including medical care, travel and expenses. It's...

December 15, 2022

Adam Silver Wants NBA To Hire Its First Female Head Coach

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver would be “hugely disappointed” if the NBA doesn’t hire its first female head coach within the next five years. The Commissioner made the comments to veteran sports TV journalist Bonnie Bernstein on the NCAA’s podcast channel Thursday. FOS

December 13, 2022

Female Track & Field Athletes the Target of Online Abuse During World Championships

During the 2022 World Championships, female athletes received 60 percent of all online abuse via Twitter and Instagram, according to a report released in November by World Athletics, the international governing body of track and field. It was the second time World Athletics monitored social media during two weeks of high-profile...

December 12, 2022

Life Time responds to Sea Otter petition, changes start times for women’s cross-country race

Life Time, the parent company of the Sea Otter Classic, has said they are changing the start format of the Fuego 40km cross-country mountain bike race in 2023. In 2023, all women's age group categories will start ahead of the men. VeloNews