Meet The 7 Trailblazing Women Who Are Shaping The Future Of Sports

Photo: Instagram/dorisburkeknowsshoop

In recent years, women have made their presence felt in sports like never before. Athletes and advocates alike are stepping up to challenge the status quo, pushing for equality, better conditions and prioritizing mental health. From tennis courts to football fields, here are some remarkable women who are transforming the sports world for the better.

1.    The Triumph of Mind Over Matter

Thanks to athletes like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka, conversations surrounding mental health in sports have become as common as discussing the score. Osaka's decision to withdraw from tennis to prioritize her well-being as her career ascended and Biles' battle with the "twisties" at the Summer Olympics brought mental health to the forefront. These women remind us that brains are just as important as brawn, and caring for one's mental health is essential.

2.    The Queen of Advocacy - Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King has advocated for women in sports for over five decades. As part of the Original 9, a group of trailblazing women who put their tennis careers on hold to push for equal pay among men and women. She fought for equal pay among men and women in tennis and became the first woman in sports history to win $100,000 in a single year. King's ongoing advocacy work, including her role in the 50th-anniversary celebration of Title IX, inspires women to break through the glass ceiling in sports.

3.    Allyson Felix: A Force for Change

Allyson Felix, the most decorated US track and field athlete in history, used her platform to challenge Nike's treatment of pregnant female athletes. Her departure from Nike for Athleta helped shine a spotlight on the need for better support for female athletes. Felix's advocacy led to policy changes at Nike, ensuring pregnant athletes are no longer penalized.

4.    Nicole Lynn: Breaking Barriers in the NFL

Nicole Lynn shattered glass ceilings by becoming the first black woman to represent a top-five NFL draft pick. Her journey to success included navigating the challenges of motherhood while thriving in the male-dominated world of sports representation. In 2023 alone, she brokered multimillion-dollar deals and continues to inspire women to take their seats at the table.

5.    Doris Burke: A Pioneer in Broadcasting

Doris Burke's groundbreaking career as a full-time NBA TV analyst and game analyst for the NBA Finals on network television paved the way for women in sports broadcasting. In August, ABC announced that Burke would become the first woman to serve as a game analyst on television for a championship final in one of the four major professional US sports leagues. Burke is the first woman awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Burke demonstrates that gender should never hinder success in sports media.

6.    The US Women's National Team: Equal Pay Champions

The US Women's National Soccer Team, with four World Cup titles and six Olympic medals, filed a class-action lawsuit in 2019 for equal pay and working conditions. In February 2022, they reached a historic agreement with US Soccer, ensuring equal pay for friendlies and tournaments, including the World Cup. This landmark agreement represents a significant step towards gender equality in sports.

7.    Jen Welter: Leading the Way in Coaching

Dr. Jen Welter broke new ground by becoming the first female coach in the NFL, serving as a linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals. Her trailblazing career opened doors for other women interested in coaching in the male- dominated world of professional football.

These remarkable women are changing the sports world for the better. Their dedication, advocacy and fearless pursuit of equality inspire women everywhere to break down barriers and pursue their dreams in sports.

Early Bird Gets The Worm

While a cup of coffee may sound more appealing than a worm, you get the drift.

This week is yours,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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College Football

Here’s something you don’t see every day, a football fan saves a cat from its’ impending doom. University of Miami Hurricane fans noticed a cat hanging from the upper deck at their home stadium. The cat was dangling by two paws, and then one. But not for long. The cat fell into the lower deck, but luckily a fan caught the feline. The fan then held up the cat in “Lion King” fashion, and the crowd erupted into cheers. WHO CARES ABOUT THE ACTUAL FOOTBALL GAME?

Overtime

The famed Met Gala is tonight, and Naomi Osaka (tennis) is slated to be one of the co-chairs of the evening, but it’s a case of will she or won’t she attend? After losing at the US Open, Osaka said she’s taking some time off of the sport to work on herself, but does that mean social engagements? The dress code of tonight’s gala is American Independence, and Osaka’s co-chairs are actor Timothée Chalamet, singer Billie Eilish and poet Amanda Gorman. FASHION FOMO

Sideline stat

Emma Raducanu went from having to qualify for tournaments to receiving congratulations on her US Open (tennis) win from Queen Elizabeth. The 18-year-old Brit is also $2.5M richer after winning the all-teenage women's finals. On the men's side, Novak Djokovic wasn't able to pull off the US Open win that he needed to make history by winning all of the Grand Slam tournaments in one season. He lost to Daniil Medvedev in the finals. SO CLOSE

Coaches’ corner

Tonight is the first “Monday Night Football” of the season, and that’s music to our ears. In fact, you can thank Drake for that. The "Certified Lover Boy" artist has another side hustle - curating the music for MNF. Songs from Drake’s new album, his classics and other music that appeals to him will be played in MNF promotional spots, live telecasts and pre-game shows.


We should mention that tonight's MNF game between the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders is the first regular-season game for the Raiders with fans (who all have to be vaccinated) in their new stadium. PARTY ON

Money Moves

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Like when the conversation turns to sports. Use that to lead into something you know so much more about, like travel or food.

Expert moves,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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The More You Know

And they say chivalry is dead. Former NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Racing) driver and current host of the "Dale Jr. Download" podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr., “saved his wife’s life” after she was stung by a jellyfish. He did exactly what you think. Yep, inspired likely by old wives’ tales and an episode of “Friends,” Dale Jr. shielded himself from other beachgoers and peed on his wife’s foot. To everyone’s surprise, the immense amount of pain stopped, and now he's a hero. NOW YOU KNOW

Overtime

After images of a German modern pentathlon coach punching their Olympic horse surfaced, actress and avid equestrian Kaley Cuoco, who is also married to a horse trainer, took to social media and offered to buy the horse and “give it the life it deserves.” German coach Kim Raisner was disqualified after hitting the horse on TV after it wouldn’t jump in the competition. SHE’S NOT HORSING AROUND

Sideline stat

Haiti was rocked by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake this weekend, leaving over 1,200 people dead as of this morning. The No. 2 tennis player in the world and social activist Naomi Osaka has pledged to donate her prize money from this week’s Western & Southern Open tennis tournament to relief efforts. Osaka's father, Leonard Francois, is a native of Haiti. DOING THE MOST GOOD

Coaches’ corner

Is it a sign of what’s to come? The Barclay’s Center, home to the Brooklyn Nets (NBA – National Basketball Association), is requiring all workers and fans in attendance to show proof of vaccination to enter the building. So far, no leagues are requiring players to be vaccinated, but the NBA’s Summer League required all non-vaccinated players to essentially remain in isolation. For the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association), 99 percent of the league is vaccinated, even without a league mandate. SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON