The Future of Sports Has Arrived—And It’s Unapologetically Female 💪
I follow The Gist, an online journal covering the business of women’s sports. It’s been lit lately.
Over the past two years, it’s been thrilling to see the boom:
WNBA: up 15% over the past three years
NWSL: grew fivefold in just two years
New volleyball, softball, and baseball leagues
Rugby and cricket World Cups are breaking global viewership records
The future of sports has arrived—and it’s female.
From the sidelines to center stage
This shift is monumental in my lifetime.
When I was a kid in the ’70s and ’80s, the Olympics and tennis were pretty much the only places to see women’s sports.
I wasn’t much of a tennis player, and gymnastics or ice skating were never options for a young girl with a paralyzing fear of falling. I played a lot of sports—some for joy, others just to burn off energy.
The sports I loved—volleyball and soccer—were never front and center.
My hero growing up was Flo Hyman, one of the greatest volleyball players ever to grace the court. I’d take any opportunity to see her play, hoping ABC’s Wide World of Sports would feature her.
Tragically, Flo Hyman’s heart gave out at age 31 due to complications from Marfan Syndrome. Her death, however, brought critical awareness to the condition and likely saved countless lives.
A legacy realized
I wish Flo were here to see a professional volleyball league in the U.S. today. I like to think she’d be thrilled by the progress.
But I’ll admit it—I’m a little jealous. Not because I ever thought I’d be good enough to be a professional athlete. But because new leagues mean new opportunities behind the scenes.
I often see job openings for these new leagues—entry to mid-level roles that my 20- or 30-year-old self would’ve fought tooth and nail for.
I would’ve channeled my warrior spirit and worked my a** off to promote something so long overdue.
And that’s really the root of it, isn’t it? It’s long overdue for women’s sports to get the recognition and investment they deserve—on the field and in the front office.
Calling it out, unapologetically
Trailblazers like Billie Jean King, Kim Ng, Dawn Staley, Renie Anderson, Jeanie Buss, and others have fought for those seats in the boardroom—and they’re demanding lasting change.
Because change happens when we call out problems openly and unapologetically.
I’ve built my career on that principle.
As a fierce advocate for body equality, I call out the racist and sexist body standards that distort how women are seen—and celebrate achievements without the toxic lens of fat-shaming.
It’s why I started Fully Unapologetic: to help women recognize and dismantle the biases that diminish their own success.
Passing the torch
Like most older folks, I look at younger generations and think, If only they knew what it was like… how far we’ve come.
But then I remember—they have their own fights. We’re nowhere near an equal playing field.
Maybe it’ll get a little easier if we join them—support them in building the leagues we always wished we had—and teach them to do it unapologetically.
🏆 Be like Billie Jean. Be like Dawn. Be you—every awesome part of you.
🔥 Question for you
What do you think will be the next big breakthrough for women’s sports—on the field or behind the scenes?
