Celebrating National Girls And Women In Sports Day

To be a woman in sports is to work hard, compete with heart, believing in your strength, using your voice, and inspiring the next generation to dream bigger than limits and show that dedication and passion belong to everyone.

As a former Division I student-athlete, sports shaped who I am long before it became my career. The lessons I learned through competition, including discipline, resilience, teamwork, and confidence, have guided me through the past 20 years at the University of Maryland. As a woman working in college athletics, it means a great deal to me to look back with pride on that journey and to continue creating meaningful moments for student-athletes and fans that reflect the impact sports can have at every level.

Being a woman in sports means breaking norms, challenging expectations, and redefining what leadership looks like. By taking up space and trusting my voice, I’m proud of the path I’ve built and grateful for the opportunities I’ve helped create for those coming behind me.

Being a woman in sports feels so empowering, especially looking around and seeing what's going on. It feels like I'm part of something important, even if I'm not a big celebrity or a well-known individual. The fact that I'm a part of this movement of more women being a part of sports, and sports channels like ESPN and FOX showing more women's sports, is amazing. I want to be part of that. I want to be a part of that push and that attraction to women's sports. I think going out there and exuding confidence while still being human and fearless in what I want to go after and how I do it is really important.

Sports can be life-changing for girls and women of all ages, abilities and types of involvement. Life-long friends, fitness, structure, careers and opportunities flourish when women get involved in sports. I’m fortunate to have benefited from and built a career in women’s collegiate athletics. I get to see first hand everyday the impact of the lessons sports impart on our student-athletes on the court, in the classroom and in life.

One of the most rewarding things in my career has been being able to look up in the stands and see little girls with a jersey on. I was the girl wearing Taylor Cummings' jersey, so to be able to be that role model for girls lets me take a step back and be grateful for the position I'm in.

The University of Maryland has an incredible history of women leading in sports, and I am grateful to become a part of that tradition. I've grown from a student manager to an athletic administrator in College Park - a journey that only happens with great support and investment from others. My mentors have challenged me to see a future beyond what I thought was possible, and I'm grateful to provide that same guidance for our next generation of women in sports."

To me, being a woman in sports has taught me to show up consistently, do the work even when it’s hard, embrace growth, and carry the confidence to know I belong here.

When it comes to being a woman in sports, it's really awesome to see what all girls are doing in sports, especially at the D1 level. It's super cool to see us all come together and compete and be able to do what we do every day. It's such a blessing, and I'm really excited to see how women's college athletics keeps growing from here.

As an athlete and now a coach, sports have had such an impact on my life. The relationships and opportunities sports bring are why I love coaching our young women. So many life lessons come through the hard work, commitment and sisterhood of competing in sports.

Being a woman in sport is such an honor. We have an opportunity to show our elite skill sets and perform at the highest level while representing the University of Maryland.

Being a woman in sports is such a special experience I am forever grateful for. We are helping shape our future leaders, while giving our ladies amazing opportunities alongside their teammates and sisters. I am so thankful for the doors sports have opened for me and my goal is a coach to help your women work to be the best version of themselves!

Being a female coach has been both rewarding and challenging beyond the field. I’m grateful for the chance to show my athletes that women can lead boldly, pursue their dreams and also raise a family.

Being a woman working in sports means showing up every day with purpose, resilience, and belief, even in spaces where you may be the first or one of the few. I am proud of the path I’ve built through leadership, service, and advocacy, and even more proud of the impact that work has on the lives of student-athletes and colleagues. My journey reminds me that representation matters, and that when women lead with authenticity and intention, we create environments where others can thrive.

Growing up, it's always been a goal of mine to get to the point where I can be a role model for younger girls. To accomplish that and play at the college level is a blessing. It just goes to show that results will come with hard work, and that would be my message to younger women.

Sport inspires girls and women to be better, to be stronger and successfully thrive in today's competitive world. It teaches life lessons of determination and how teamwork makes our dreams work

For me personally, being a woman in sports is bigger than what it says. Being a woman in sports provides me with a community that has the power to uplift and change my perspective in every aspect of my life. My sport gives me the confidence of knowing I belong everywhere, whether it be in class, in a workspace, and places where my identity is underrepresented. Being able to play a sport with people of similar upbringings allows for younger people, older people, and people of all different walks of life to know that they too belong. Being a woman in sports gives us a platform to speak up for those who aren’t yet comfortable in the spaces they are in.

From my first day working at Maryland, I’ve felt incredibly empowered and supported. It meant a lot to me as a young professional to see so many strong women in positions of leadership, and I’m grateful to now get to be that person for other women entering their careers in sports. Many of my favorite moments throughout my career have been from working with our incredible, inspiring women’s teams and the memories we've created for them and our fans.

Being involved in women’s sports is a privilege that allows me to help shape strong, confident leaders. The lessons, relationships, and opportunities athletics provide are invaluable, and as a coach, my purpose is to help young women maximize their potential.

Growing up, I admired and looked up to so many female athletes, and I still do today. Their incredible achievements, hard work, and discipline motivate me to keep improving. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to carry on the legacy of women in sports while competing at the Division I level, and I hope to inspire others to follow their dreams too!

To me, being a woman in sports is about confidence, discipline, and using my voice. I’m grateful to compete alongside women who push boundaries and inspire the next generation to dream big!

As a woman in sports, my role has called for resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment, especially while balancing the demands of leadership with motherhood. Navigating these challenges has shown me the importance of building sustainable and supportive structures within our program. I am most proud of the culture my staff and I have built to foster both the personal and athletic growth of our student-athletes.

Being a woman in sport has fundamentally shaped me as a person, and I am constantly inspired by the amazing women who I get to call my coaches and teammates. From starting as a young girl who was just eager to play and compete, to becoming a D1 collegiate athlete and being able to help foster confidence and community in young women and girls who will come after me.

It means more than words can express. After playing a home game and seeing all the little girls line up, it honestly takes my mind away from softball, and just puts me back into that 10 or 11-year-old self. I was one of those girls looking up to older players, so knowing that I can be that role model for them, like I said, means more than words can express. It keeps me accountable for being appreciative of my ability, my body, and the way I can play softball.