In sports, women are proving themselves more than ever before. Traditionally, men have dominated this domain, but the narrative is swiftly evolving.
Simone Biles, who is no stranger to winning and competing at a high level, kept her winning streak set in the 2016 and 2021 Olympics at the 2023 Gymnastics World Championship. She secured an impressive total of six medals, making her the record holder for the most Gymnastics World Championship medals out of any man or woman, with 30 medals total, while the most a man had won at the world gymnastic championship was 23 medals. With the 2024 Olympics looming, Biles could return to shatter records on the floor yet again. Biles serves as an inspiration to younger gymnasts and women in sport in general showing they can compete and dominate in sports.
In the basketball world, the WNBA Finals witnessed a historic victory when The Las Vegas Aces became the first WNBA team in 21 years to win back-to-back titles. Notably, the 2023 WNBA Finals garnered substantial attention, with a total viewership of 728,000 across the four games, making it the most-watched WNBA Finals in 20 years which solidified its status as one of the most-watched WNBA Finals in history, or rather, “her-story.” Additionally, Candace Parker’s achievement with the Las Vegas Aces sets her apart as the sole female player to have won a WNBA Finals with three different teams.
At the collegiate level, where trailblazers often commence their journeys, a milestone was claimed at the University of Texas earlier this month. Lexi Missimo of Texas women’s soccer ascended to prominence by setting records, notching 18 goals and 15 assists in the regular season.
Texas women’s athletics consistently excel during regular and postseason competition. Whether it’s Texas volleyball clinching the NCAA championship, Texas softball triumphing the Big 12 conference and hosting an NCAA regional playoff round or Texas women’s track securing their own NCAA national championship. The state cultivates a reputation for producing and dismantling barriers in women’s sports.
In years to come, women’s sports will inevitably experience continued expansion. In 2024, the US is planning to establish a professional volleyball league while the WNBA expands to the Bay Area, sharing the Chase Center stadium with the Golden State Warriors. The women’s NCAA volleyball national championship game will appear on ABC for the first time in history and The University of Texas at Austin has added a beach volleyball team as that sport grows in popularity. These athletes will no doubt elevate the women’s game, shattering barriers that may presently appear insurmountable.
