Historically, women’s sports have consistently sat in the rear view behind men’s. Games are covered by networks less, viewers might turn it on if nothing else sparks their interest, and events are hardly ever sold out.
But recently, a new slogan has emerged: “Everyone watches women’s sports.”
Media and commerce brand, Togethxr, has coined this phrase in an collaborative effort to level the playing field and bring more awareness to the talent of female athletes. Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel, and Sue Bird teamed up as a powerful female force whose initial goal has now transformed into a cultural phenomenon.
Recently, studies have shown that viewers for WNBA games, NCAA women’s college basketball and volleyball games have skyrocketed.
While the WNBA has always included high-level female athletes, the arrival of superstar Caitlin Clark has brought more attention to games nationwide. Clark, who was a standout player at Iowa, now plays for the Indiana Fever.
In 2024, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship between South Carolina and Iowa broke the record for the most-watched college basketball game ever, including both men’s and women’s events. The game drew in 18.9 million viewers on ESPN and stood as a powerful message that talent is talent, regardless of sex.
Furthermore, in 2023, the Nebraska women’s volleyball team hosted Omaha inside their own Memorial Stadium. The game drew in 92,003 fans, setting a record for the highest attendance of a women’s sporting event in history. Moments like these further prompted the development of the phrase “Everyone watches women’s sports,” as viewers from around the country discovered a new sport they enjoyed watching.
Meghan Koenen, a volleyball captain at HHS, expressed her personal excitement after watching the Nebraska game in 2023. She noted that, “The coverage was amazing. I could feel the atmosphere from inside my house, like the way you feel the excitement from the Superbowl. Watching that many people show up for women’s volleyball was super special to me.”
On some platforms, controversy has sparked as a result of the word “everyone” in Togethxr’s slogan. Some people feel that a shirt simply saying “I watch women’s sports” would be more impactful, instead of making a generalization that isn’t entirely true. Regardless, the t-shirts, pins, and hats manufactured all work to send the same message – that women’s sports are growing and that they deserve the same recognition as men’s.
Even in a high school environment, on a much smaller scale than professional sports, women’s sports are gaining more attention. HHS senior and field hockey captain Ryan Hallisey is committed to play D3 field hockey at Colby College. This fall, she helped bring her team to their first ever MIAA D2 State Championship appearance. Ryan explained that “Seeing people show up to our games, especially in the post-season meant a lot to myself, and to our team. Support from families and students make games feel so special.”
Ultimately, progress takes a while and realistically, change cannot be expected in a short amount of time. However, small steps towards greater equality in sports have begun. And now that slogans have been coined and several figures have taken to social media to express their opinion, it is only a matter of time before everyone watches women’s sports.
Instead of young girls constantly seeing men fill their screens and wondering why March Madness brackets are typically just created for the men’s side, the next generation of female athletes and leaders will have a new understanding of their important role in sports, media, and the world.
