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.-
December 17, 2021
Why Did the WTA Risk Everything for Peng Shuai?
Steve Simon didn’t start the year expecting to be in central Mexico in mid-November. But COVID-19 has made improvisers of us all, including the CEO of the WTA Tour. He anticipated closing out the 2021 season in Shenzhen, China, at the WTA Finals, the event from which the Women’s Tennis...
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December 14, 2021
USA Gymnastics, USOPC reach $380M settlement with victims
The legal wrangling between USA Gymnastics and the more than 500 victims of sexual abuse by former national team doctor Larry Nassar, among others, is over after a $380 million settlement was reached, ending one aspect of the fallout of the largest sexual abuse scandal in the history of the...
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December 10, 2021
Charlton Athletic receive huge backlash over ‘bizarre’ women’s team rebrand proposal
Charlton Athletic are coming under serious scrutiny from many within the women's football community after proposing a rebrand on their women's team. A move, spearheaded by club owner Thomas Sandgaard, will see Charlton Women become 'Charlton Ladies,' received poorly by supporters, players, and former professionals of the game. GIVEMESPORT
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December 4, 2021
Eagles’ Jalen Hurts champions women empowerment for ‘My Cause, My Cleats’
Inspired by the women in his life, Philadelphia Eaglesquarterback Jalen Hurts is using the NFL's "My Cause, My Cleats" initiative to advocate for women in sports and beyond. "Women Empowerment" is written on one of the designer cleats for Sunday's game against the New York Jets, while the other shines...
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December 3, 2021
Chinese Sponsor Distanced Itself From Women’s Tennis Before WTA Pulled Events From China
The Women’s Tennis Association said that its largest Chinese sponsor asked last week to be removed from the organization’s website, the latest sign of tension between the tour and China after a sexual-assault allegation against a former Chinese government official was made on the verified social-media account of tennis pro...
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December 1, 2021
Women’s tennis tour suspends China events over Peng concerns
In the strongest public stand against China taken by a sports body, the head of the women’s professional tennis tour announced Wednesday that all WTA tournaments there would be suspended because of concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former government official...
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November 28, 2021
WA study finds female Olympians recieve more online abuse than men
A recent study published by World Athletics (WA) revealed that female athletes competing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were the target of 87 per cent of all online abuse directed at Olympic athletes during the Games. According to WA, the results of the study indicate that more needs to be...
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November 21, 2021
Peng Shuai situation explained: International Olympic Committee holds video call with Chinese tennis star
Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai hasn't been seen in public for 18 days and counting. This comes after she accused a former Chinese Communist party leader of sexual assault on Nov. 2. It has created significant concern within the WTA and tennis community over her whereabouts. CBS Sports
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November 17, 2021
IOC Abandons Testosterone Rules for Transgender Athletes
On Tuesday the International Olympic Committee published a groundbreaking document titled “Framework on Fairness, Inclusion, and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations.” The ten-point guide advises individual Olympic sports on how best to create new rules governing such athletes. Under the new guidelines, the IOC forbids governing...
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November 4, 2021
Sara Björk: An Example For Women Returning To Play Soccer After Pregnancy
In April, Gunnarsdóttir, currently under contract at French side Olympique Lyonnais until June 2022, announced that she and her husband were expecting their first child and were returning to stay with her relatives in Iceland to carry her pregnancy to term. Last month, her sponsors PUMA revealed that in collaboration with...
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November 3, 2021
Why the CEO of Wild Rye Started Women Led Wednesday
Cassie Abel, co-founder of Wild Rye, a mountain bike and ski apparel brand, launched Women Led Wednesday, and started promoting it on social media through a hashtag, then its own account, and a website that now hosts a directory of some 500 women-identifying owned businesses across two dozen industries like...
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November 1, 2021
Handball Federation gets rid of bikini uniform rule after accusations of sexism
In a new development, the International Handball Federation (IHF) has changed their uniform policy for female players. Women will now be allowed to wear bike shorts and tank tops, replacing a previous ruling of bikini bottoms and crop tops. The move comes after the European Handball Federation (EHF) imposed a...
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October 29, 2021
For women’s sports coverage, the landscape is shifting
In a new global research report, The Coverage Gap: A Step Towards Leveling Visibility and Viewership Disparity in Women’s Sports. The survey’s bottom line: There is still a massive disparity in the amount of coverage women’s sports receive in broadcasted games and media, but the landscape is shifting and there are...
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October 25, 2021
Women athletes allege body shaming within Oregon Ducks track and field program
Six women athletes who left the University of Oregon track and field program in recent seasons say they felt devalued as individuals and at risk for eating disorders because of the program’s data-driven approach to their weight and body fat percentages. Five of the women departed with remaining eligibility. One said...
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October 21, 2021
Adidas joins Black Women’s Player Collective as long term partner, commits to building mini soccer pitches by year’s end
In an effort to abolish barriers standing in the way of future advancements in the game of soccer, Adidas and the Black Women’s Player Collective (BWPC) are teaming up to change the narrative of Black women and girls in soccer by demanding equity, representation and access at all levels of the game....
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October 18, 2021
Media Outlets, Stop Sexualizing Women in Sports
A study by the Cambridge University Press evaluated the language used to describe men and women athletes across sports media, including written articles and commentary during broadcasts. Researchers found a real disconnect between how men and women are portrayed. Read about these women's experiences on Outside.
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October 18, 2021
Texas set to ban transgender girls and women from participating in female school sports
The Texas House of Representatives claims that the law, which would apply to public school teams through high school, protects fair competition. Current rules state that testosterone level in serum must remain below 10 nmol/L throughout the period of desired eligibility to compete in the female category, which is based...
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October 13, 2021
Did Women’s Sports Foundation try to silence a leading voice fighting sexual abuse in sports?
The Women’s Sports Foundation in August 2014 offered Hogshead-Makar a two-year contract extension that would pay her $10,000 a month to serve as the organization’s senior director of advocacy, a consulting position. The offer, however, came with a stipulation: Hogshead-Makar could not publicly discuss or write about sexual abuse or...
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October 12, 2021
Mary Cain suing former coach Alberto Salazar, Nike
On Monday, The Oregonian reported that former Nike Oregon Project athlete, Mary Cain, has reportedly filed a $20 million lawsuit against Nike and her former coach, Alberto Salazar, over alleged abuse. Cain is accusing Salazar of publicly shaming her over her weight, leading her to depression, an eating disorder and self-harm....
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October 11, 2021
The incredible back-story of how young female cyclists were evacuated out of Afghanistan
A frantic SMS with an urgent plea for help triggered a series of events that led to a daring rescue and evacuation of 165 people — among them dozens of young female cyclists — out of Afghanistan. Just weeks ago, as the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan was collapsing under Taliban...
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October 7, 2021
WNBA players will now have access to free fertility testing
Modern Fertility, a San Francisco-based unit of digital health company Ro, will provide hormone tests and fertility support to all players as part of an arrangement organized by Los Angeles Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike, now in her second three-year term as president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association. She wants...
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October 5, 2021
The NWSL will return, but its players aren’t done demanding change
The National Women’s Soccer League will return to the field Wednesday, but the fallout from allegations of player abuse is expected to continue, with players demanding widespread change from a league they say has failed to protect them. On Tuesday, Washington Spirit CEO and controlling owner Steve Baldwin announced he...
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October 4, 2021
Commissioner of top US women’s soccer league resigns amid sexual harassment scandal
National Women's Soccer League Commissioner Lisa Baird resigned after some 19 months on the job amid allegations that a former coach engaged in sexual harassment and misconduct. Baird's resignation was announced by the league late Friday, a day after The Athletic published the accounts of two former players who claimed...
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September 30, 2021
New Balance ‘The Stolen Starts’ global female running collective
New Balance has officially unveiled the first iteration of The Stolen Starts, a new global community of female runners that aims to elevate athletes, their stories and the issues they are passionate about. The Stolen Starts collective is made up of 11 women who want to drive positive change in...
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September 29, 2021
After backlash, NCAA extends ‘March Madness’ brand to women’s basketball tournament
A little over six months after an outcry drew attention to inequities between the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the NCAA announced Wednesday that it will extend “March Madness,” its trademark for the Division I men’s tournament, to the women’s tournament, which is held at the same time annually...