ACTIVISM
Want to stay up to date on the latest press releases and news about activism within the women's sports industry? Scroll below to view all women's sports activism news.-
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
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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
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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...
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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...
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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
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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...
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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...
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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
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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
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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...
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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
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December 12, 2022
With Griner safely home, WNBA focus shifts to avoiding future situations
With Mercury C Brittney Griner free from Russian custody, the focus for WNBACommissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA “shifts to supporting the 32-year-old and her family -- and to ensuring that Griner’s ordeal doesn’t happen again,” according to Eden Laase of JUST WOMEN’S SPORTS. SBJ
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December 7, 2022
‘Let Women Ride:’ How one mountain biker’s school project seeks to address gender equality at Sea Otter
Yoslov, a senior at The Branson School, a private high school in Marin County, California, is the author of a petition on change.org that is gathering signatures with astonishing force. The name of the petition is ‘Let Women Ride: Improve Gender Equality in The Sea Otter Classic,’ and it’s Yoslov’s...
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December 3, 2022
Iranian athlete’s family home demolished by officials, media outlet says
The family home of Iranian rock climber Elnaz Rekabi has been demolished, according to the pro-reform news outlet IranWire, after she rose to international prominence this fall for competing with her head uncovered. Rekabi competed without her hijab in South Korea in October, just as anti-regime protests swept Iran following...
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December 1, 2022
UCI recognised for its support of female cyclists from Afghanistan
The UCI received the Special Jury Prize for its actions to support female cyclists from Afghanistan by helping evacuate them from the country following the Taliban take-over in 2021, welcoming athletes to its headquarters in Aigle (Switzerland) and organising the women’s national championships on Swiss territory. Endurance.biz
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November 30, 2022
First All-Female Referee Team To Take Pitch During A Men’s World Cup
On Wednesday, all three referees at a men’s World Cup match will be women, according to FIFA. The Costa Rica-Germany Group E match on Thursday will feature Karen Dia, Neuza Back, and Stephanie Frappart — the main referee. While this isn’t the first time FIFA has employed female referees —...
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November 23, 2022
The 36 iconic female athletes who have changed the world of women’s sports for the better
Recent breakthroughs have helped usher female athletes and their organizations closer to the mainstream than they've ever been. According to a 2018 Nielsen report on the rise of women's sports, 84% of general sports fans now have an interest in women's sports. Insider
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November 22, 2022
How Races Are Supporting Breastfeeding Runners
From pumping tents at start villages to lactation stations along the course, here’s how major races are making changes to better support new moms. Runners World (paywall)
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November 21, 2022
Gymnasts to testify on first day of hearings on safety of girls, women in sport
After months of imploring the federal government to clean up their sport, Canadian gymnasts will finally have the floor in Ottawa. Gymnasts will be among the first to testify before members of Parliament today as the Standing Committee on the Status of Women begins its hearings on the safety of...
