National Girls & Women in Sports Day: Empowering Women Through Sports

February 5th is National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), a day to celebrate the achievements of female athletes and highlight the importance of sports in empowering women and girls. Organized by the Women’s Sports Foundation, this day sheds light on the need for equity in sports and encourages participation, funding, and opportunities for women in athletics.

Since its inception in 1987, NGWSD has championed the drive to create inclusive, supportive sports environments for all women, regardless of socioeconomic status or ability.

Three Facts:
1. Girls who participate in sports are more likely to excel academically, with 87% of female executives indicating they played sports growing up.
2. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was pivotal in increasing female participation in sports. Before Title IX, fewer than 300,000 high school girls played sports. Today, that number exceeds 3.4 million.
3. Women still face challenges in sports equity, as they receive starkly less funding, visibility, and resources compared to their male counterparts.

How You Can Celebrate:
1. Promote the stories of women athletes across social media or school announcements.
2. Participate in local athletic programs and encourage girls to try new sports.
3. Advocate for policies that increase female sports budgets and scholarships.

Three Resources:

National Girls and Women in Sports Coalition – Find local events and advocacy campaigns for NGWSD.

Women’s Sports Foundation – Resources for amplifying female athletes’ voices.

Association for Women in Sports Media – Supporting women in sports journalism.

If you are interested in connecting with others who celebrate women and girls in sports, we invite you to join us in our soon to be launched new Force for Health® Club called My Girl Power BASICS, with activities and challenges kicking off in March 2025. Join for free here or by click the image below.