5 Women Leading The Way In Sports
In celebration of International Women’s Day tomorrow, we bring you five women shattering the glass ceiling.
In celebration of International Women’s Day tomorrow, we bring you five women shattering the glass ceiling.
Like a boss,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Five Women Leading The Way In Sports
1. Team U.S.A. women’s hockey almost didn’t make it to the 2018 Winter Olympics because they were holding out for equal treatment. Part of the negotiations included equal pay, same equipment and per diems as their male counterparts. They were victorious in their negotiations and then backed it up by winning the gold. Not that it's a contest, but in the 2018 Winter Olympics the women on Team U.S.A. won more gold medals than the men. We all win!
2. In 1977, Janet Guthrie paved the way in racing, becoming the first woman to earn a starting spot in both the Indianapolis 500 (Indy Car Racing) and the Daytona 500 (NASCAR – National Association For Stock Car Auto Racing). Danica Patrick took Guthrie’s record a step further, as the first woman to win an IndyCar race and pole position (i.e. the best spot to start the race) in the Daytona 500. While Patrick has retired from NACSAR, she will drive the last race of her career at the Indianapolis 500 in May.
3. Ronda Rousey was told by the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) execs that there women would "never" be in the UFC. A year later, she proved them wrong as she stepped into the octagon. Since then the women’s category has exploded with women even battling it out as the main event. Never say never.
4. Following in the footsteps of the greats, Billie Jean King and Althea Gibson, Serena Williams has amassed a list of titles and records throughout her tennis career. She recently added a new one to her resume, mom. The G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) has long stood up for equity through education and stars in a new, powerful Nike ad with the message that there’s “no wrong way to be a woman.”
5. Combating the voices of hate, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad won a bronze medal in the Rio Olympics and became the first Muslim-American woman to wear a hijab while competing for the U.S. This year, Barbie recognized her for her messages of self-love, equality and inclusion with her own Barbie Shero doll. (Shero = she hero). Her doll is the first-ever Barbie to wear a hijab.
Keep the conversation going
Need a little something for small talk before today’s big meeting? Here’s what everyone is buzzing about including a remarkable women’s basketball team, the most controversial ending in Bachelor history and why an NBA player is encouraging everyone to go see a therapist. READ
The Rundown: Five Things To Know About Major League Baseball
The boys of summer are back! That’s right, baseball season begins on Sunday. With summer and grand slams around the corner, here are five things to know so you can hit a home run in the baseball conversation.
Batter up,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Do you have burning questions about baseball? Check out our Major League Baseball FAQs. Want more? Tweet or email us with your questions.
Five Things To Know About MLB (Major League Baseball)
- Baseball players are called the boys of summer, but why? Baseball is the only major professional sport that spans the summer and starts and finishes the season in the same calendar year. It’s also the longest regular season in professional sports with 162 games.
- MLB is divided into two leagues – NL (National League) and AL (American League). What’s the difference? In the NL pitchers bat for themselves. In the AL, pitchers don’t hit. They have a designated hitter (a player who only hits, doesn’t play a field position) to hit for them.
- Strikeouts are measured by “K’s” on the game broadcast and throughout stadium. A forward-facing K means the player struck out swinging (they missed the ball on the third strike). A backwards K means a strikeout looking (i.e. they didn’t swing and were called out by the umpire). Photo.
- MLB does not have a salary cap like other professional leagues. Instead they have a competitive balance tax or “luxury tax.” Once a team’s annual player payroll hits a certain number (this year it’s $195 million), they are taxed. The tax was put in place so big market teams (think: New York Yankees) wouldn’t sign all of the best players, leaving the small market teams at a competitive disadvantage. Where does the tax money go? Find out here.
- Ones to watch – The defending champions are the Chicago Cubs. (Remember that epic World Series where they beat the Cleveland Indians and broke their 108-year losing streak)? Sports Illustrated predicts a Houston Astros – Chicago Cubs World Series.
Overtime
- After threatening a boycott, the U.S.A.’s women’s hockey team will report to the World Championships on Friday. The team was protesting U.S.A. Hockey’s compensation for women’s hockey. The two agreed on new terms that include salary raises, performance bonuses and increased efforts to support girls' developmental teams to further the sport.
Sideline stat
- NFL (National Football League) owners voted a resounding 31 - 1 to approve the relocation of the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas. It’s going to be a long, awkward breakup because the Vegas stadium won’t be done until 2020. With no new home, the Raiders will have to play the next few seasons in Oakland.
Coaches’ Corner
- What is a grand slam? Yes, a grand slam is a meal at Denny’s but in baseball it’s when there are runners on all three bases (first, second and third) and the batter hits a home run which equals four runs scored.