5 Women Leading The Way In Sports

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

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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

Soar Into The Weekend

Take off into your Friday. Sit back, relax and enjoy the weekend ahead.

Wheels up,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Winter Olympics

If you’ve been staying up too late to watch sports you didn’t even know you cared about. The Winter Olympics are coming to an end with the closing ceremony on Sunday. In the ceremony, a united Korea will hand the Olympic torch off to the site of the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tokyo. Also, keep an eye out for Ivanka Trump in attendance and the dynamic duo of former Olympic figure skaters Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir in the broadcast booth.

Overtime

It’s been a great week for American gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim. She’s on the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside her dog and she photobombed tourists with Jimmy Fallon. Then she learned that her real dream had come true. Kim will be featured on the front of Kellogg's Corn Flakes boxes.

Sideline stat

Normally when a player’s jersey number is retired, it’s never to be worn again by anyone else on the team. That is until your kin comes along. Larry Nance Jr. was recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA – National Basketball Association) where his father’s #22 jersey is retired. After initially declining to wear the same number as his dad, he has decided that he will in fact wear the family jewel - the #22 jersey.

Coaches’ corner

In the “yes this really happened file,” we bring you American skier representing Hungary, Elizabeth Swaney. She attempted exactly zero tricks on her halfpipe run - a run that many are calling a mockery of the sport. She made the Hungary Olympic team simply because she didn't fall during her qualifier. She's known for seeking the spotlight, having run against Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor as a college student. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this video will leave you speechless.

What to watch

The men’s curling gold medal match between USA and Sweden begins at 3am Saturday morning EST and there’s still plenty of speed skating left to watch. Also, MLB (Major League Baseball) spring training games start tomorrow. Batter up!

More Fun Than A Barrel Of Monkeys

While the Olympics may be dominating your newsfeed, this weekend in sports brings us a whole lot more than downhill and spandex.

It’ll still be fun, we promise,

The Last Night’s Game Team 

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NBA (National Basketball Association)

There’s a first time for everything. This Sunday is the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles and for the first time the teams are not divided up by conference, but chosen by two captains (Steph Curry and LeBron James). The best in the league were narrowed down by a vote and then drafted old school P.E. class-style by the captains. On the line? $300,000 and $150,000 for the teams’ selected charities.

If you believe you can fly. Saturday night features a variety of all-star weekend skills challenges, including the slam dunk competition as well as the three-point shooting contest and the skills competition, which shows off the player’s versatility. Be prepared to be impressed.

College Football

A little feel good for your Friday. During the college football season, the Iowa Hawkeyes started a tradition where their fans wave to the kids at the neighboring children's hospital, which looks into the stadium, at the end of the first quarter. The team has taken it a step further during the off-season, drawing a giant hand in the snow on the field to "wave" to the kids at the hospital. 

Overtime

No one is having more fun in PyeongChang than the Swiss freestyle ski team. If their team announcement video didn’t convince you that the Swiss really do have more fun, then watch the video of skier Fabian Bösch taking an unconventional ride on escalator. More proof that Olympians are not human.

Sideline stat

NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) kicks off its season on Sunday with the Daytona 500. Some familiar faces will take the track including former NFL (National Football League) quarterback Peyton Manning, who will drive the pace car. The one to watch? Danica Patrick, who will drive in this race and one other this season before retiring. And yes, her boyfriend, Green Bay Packers quarterback (NFL) Aaron Rodgers will be there cheering her on.

Coaches’ corner

Ever wonder what the difference is between the slalom, giant slalom and downhill ski events? We did too. We break it down for you in less than one minute. WATCH