Continued investments in women's sports are turning potential into progress and driving new opportunities
NEW YORK, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56C`QmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>>2]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^ahd`f``^v=@32=0(@>6?D0$A@CED0#6G6?F6]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk^2mk^Amk^5:Gm
kAmkDEC@?8mz6J E2<62H2JDk^DEC@?8m k^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:mkDEC@?8m(@>6?VD DA@CED 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ DFC86i v=@32= C6G6?F6D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ C6249 2E =62DE Sb 3:==:@? :? a_aek^DEC@?8m[ 2? :?4C62D6 @7 bc_T :? 7@FC J62CD]k^=:mk=:m|2?J 72?D 2C6 :?G6DE:?8 E96:C E:>6 2?5 >@?6J :? H@>6?VD DA@CEDi kDEC@?8m|2E4952J C6G6?F6 :D 6IA64E65 E@ 8C@H E@ Sh`` >:==:@?k^DEC@?8m[ C6AC6D6?E:?8 b_T @7 E@E2= C6G6?F6 :? a_ae]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m}@CE9 p>6C:42 :D 7@C642DE65 E@ C6>2:? E96 =2C86DE C6G6?F6\86?6C2E:?8 >2C<6E WdcTX[k^DEC@?8m 3FE 6>6C8:?8 C68:@?D 2C6 82:?:?8 8C@F?5 2?5 6DE23=:D9:?8 ?6H 8C@HE9 36?49>2C<D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m$@446C 2?5 32D<6E32== 2C6 AC@;64E65 E@ 86?6C2E6 E96 9:896DE 2>@F?E @7 8=@32= H@>6?VD DA@CED C6G6?F6k^DEC@?8m :? a_ae[ 5C:G6? 3J G2C:65 :?G6DE>6?ED — :?4=F5:?8 E96 =2F?49 @7 ?6H =628F6D 2?5 4@>A6E:E:@?D — E92E 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 7F6= E96 7FEFC6 @7 H@>6?VD DA@CED]k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8m(9J E9:D >2EE6CDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%96 >@>6?EF> 369:?5 H@>6?VD DA@CED 4@?E:?F6D E@ 2446=6C2E6] p44@C5:?8 E@ s6=@:EE6 v=@32=VD C6A@CE[ Qk^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcedhbf_\`U2>Aj9laeefcc`aeaU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau56=@:EE6]4@>Tau4@?E6?ETauH63D:E6DTau=2?8F286DTau6?Taux?5FDEC:6DTauE>ETauA6CDA64E:G6DTau82>6\492?86CD\F?=@4<:?8\A@E6?E:2=\H@>6?\DA@CED]9E>=U2>Aj2lv2>6Zr92?86CDTbpZ&?=@4<:?8ZE96Z!@E6?E:2=Z@7Z(@>6?TafDZ$A@CEDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmv2>6 r92?86CDi &?=@4<:?8 E96 !@E6?E:2= @7 (@>6?VD $A@CEDk^2mkDA2?m[Q 8=@32= H@>6?VD DA@CED C6G6?F6D 2C6 C6249:?8 ?6H 96:89ED 7@==@H:?8 DF3DE2?E:2= :?G6DE>6?ED H9:49 2C6 6IA2?5:?8 @A6C2E:@?D[ 5C:G:?8 8C@HE9[ 2?5 :?4C62D:?8k^DA2?m AC@76DD:@?2=:K2E:@? kDA2?m7@C 3@E9 6I:DE:?8 =628F6D 2?5 ?6H 6?E:E:6D] %96 :?5FDECJVD 5J?2>:4 6G@=FE:@? :D 7F?52>6?E2==J C6D92A:?8 9@H DA@CED @C82?:K2E:@?D 4@??64E H:E9 2?5 56=:G6C E@ 72?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(@>6?VD DA@CED C6G6?F6D 4@?E:?F6 E@ DFC86k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAms6=@:EE6 v=@32= AC65:4ED E92E 8=@32= C6G6?F6D :? H@>6?VD 6=:E6 DA@CED H:== C6249 2E =62DE Sb 3:==:@? :? a_ae[ C6AC6D6?E:?8 2? :?4C62D6 @7 bc_T D:?46 a_aa] %9:D 3F:=5D @? a_ad C6G6?F6D[ H9:49 DFCA2DD65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcedhbf_\`U2>Aj9lcb_gcddgdU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]56=@:EE6]4@>Tau8=@32=Tau6?Taux?5FDEC:6DTauE>ETauA6CDA64E:G6DTau492CE:?8\E96\?6IE\A92D6\@7\8C@HE9]9E>=U2>Aj2ls6=@:EE6Zv=@32=TafDZ@C:8:?2=ZTaca]bdZ3:==:@?ZAC65:4E:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQms6=@:EE6 v=@32=VD @C:8:?2= Sa]bd 3:==:@? AC65:4E:@?k^2m E@ C6249 Sa]c 3:==:@?] %9:D 2?2=JD:D :?4=F56D 4@>>6C4:2=[ 3C@2542DE[ 2?5 >2E4952J C6G6?F6]k^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:mx? a_ae[ 4@>>6C4:2= C6G6?F6 :D 6IA64E65 E@ C6>2:? E96 =2C86DE 8=@32= C6G6?F6 5C:G6C 24C@DD H@>6?VD DA@CED[ E@E2=:?8 S`]c 3:==:@? @C 2 cdT D92C6 @7 C6G6?F6] r@>>6C4:2= C6G6?F6 :D 6IA64E65 E@ C:D6 7C@> S`]` 3:==:@? :? a_ad]k^=:mk=:m|2E4952J C6G6?F6 :D 6IA64E65 E@ 4=:>3 D:8?:7:42?E=J 7C@> Sfcg >:==:@? =2DE J62C E@ Sh`` >:==:@? :? a_ae[ C6AC6D6?E:?8 b_T @7 E96 E@E2= C6G6?F6 :? a_ae]k^=:mk=:ms6=@:EE6 v=@32= 7@C642DED 2? :?4C62D6 :? 3C@2542DE C6G6?F6 E@ Sfed >:==:@?[ FA 7C@> Sdd` >:==:@? :? a_ad]Â k^=:mk=:m$@446C 2?5 32D<6E32== 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 36 E96 E@A C6G6?F6\86?6C2E:?8 H@>6?VD DA@CED 8=@32==J :? a_ae[ H:E9 6249 6IA64E65 E@ C6AC6D6?E bdT @7 E96 E@E2= C6G6?F6] (9:=6 3@E9 DA@CED 36?67:E 7C@> 92G:?8 2? 6DE23=:D965 AC6D6?46 :? 9:89=J AC@76DD:@?2=:K65 6?G:C@?>6?ED[ D@446CVD 8C@HE9 :D 5C:G6? 3J DF3DE2?E:2= :?G6DE>6?ED :? 8=@32= >2C<6ED[ E96 6>6C86?46 @7 =628F6D 2D :?56A6?56?E 6?E:E:6D[ 2?5 E96 C6DECF4EFC:?8 @7 H@>6?VD E62>D H:E9:? E96 3C@256C @C82?:K2E:@?2= DECF4EFC6]k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mz6J BF@E6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmQ%96 ?2CC2E:G6 92D D9:7E65 :? 2 A@H6C7F= H2J] (@>6?VD DA@CED 2C6 E9C:G:?8 2?5 567:?65 3J C62=[ EC2?D7@C>2E:G6 8C@HE9 2?5 2 C2A:5=J 6IA2?5:?8 8=@32= 72? 32D6] (:E9 8=@32= C6G6?F6 @? EC24< E@ E@A Sb 3:==:@? E9:D J62C[ E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? 92D >@G65 36J@?5 AC@G:?8 G2=F6 E@ :?E6?E:@?2==J 3F:=5:?8 2 =2DE:?8[ H@C=5\4=2DD 7@F?52E:@? 7@C E96 7FEFC6] %9:D >@>6?EF> :D?VE D:>A=J 2446=6C2E:?8 C6>2C<23=6 8C@HE9 2?5 6IA2?D:@?j :EVD C6567:?:?8 E96 7FEFC6 @7 E96 DA@CED :?5FDECJ 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D E@ 4@>6]Qk^Am
kAmkDA2?m—k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcedhbf_\`U2>Aj9la__eddcgdfU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHHa]56=@:EE6]4@>TauFDTau6?TauAC@7:=6DTau=23C2D9]9E>=U2>Aj2l{2C2Zp3C2D9Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm{2C2 p3C2D9k^2m[ r92:C[ s6=@:EE6 &$k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mqF:=5:?8 E96 7@F?52E:@? 7@C 2 DFDE2:?23=6 H@>6?VD DA@CED 7FEFC6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
More from this section
kAm%96 G2DE C6G6?F6 8C@HE9 :? H@>6?VD DA@CED :==FDEC2E6D 2 DEC@?8 7@F?52E:@? 7@C 4@?E:?F65[ =@?8\E6C> :?G6DE>6?ED E@ 7FCE96C 86?6C2E6 C6EFC?D E9C@F89 AC@76DD:@?2=:K:?8 E96 :?5FDECJ 2?5 C6D92A:?8 :ED :?7C2DECF4EFC6]k^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:m}@CE9 p>6C:42 WS`]e 3:==:@?[ dcTX 2?5 tFC@A6 WScbc >:==:@?[ `cTX 2C6 AC65:4E65 E@ C6>2:? E96 =2C86DE C6G6?F6\86?6C2E:?8 >2C<6ED] (9:=6 }@CE9 p>6C:42 92D =2F?4965 @G6C 6:89E ?6H H@>6?VD DA@CED =628F6D D:?46 a_a_[ 6>6C8:?8 C68:@?D 2C6 6DE23=:D9:?8 ?6H 36?49>2C<D 7@C 4@?E:?F65 8C@HE9]k^=:mk=:mu@C :?5:G:5F2= DA@CED =:<6 E6??:D 2?5 8@=7[ DEC2E68:4 4@==23@C2E:@?D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 96=A 5C:G6 C6G6?F6[ :?4C62D6 G:D:3:=:EJ[ 2?5 AC@>@E6 2E9=6E6VD A=2E7@C>D]k^=:mk=:mx?G6DE>6?E :? :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? E96 &]$] 2?5 A2CED @7 tFC@A6[ 2C6 4C62E:?8 >@C6 AC@76DD:@?2=:K65 6?G:C@?>6?ED 7@C E96 2E9=6E6D[ 2?5 5C:G:?8 E96 =@?8\E6C> G:D:@? @7 E96 @H?6CD 2?5 :?G6DE@CD]k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mz6J BF@E6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmQ(@>6?VD DA@CED 2C6 6?E6C:?8 2 ?6H A92D6 — @?6 567:?65 3J D42=6[ DECF4EFC6[ 2?5 DFDE2:?65 :?G6DE>6?E] #:D:?8 G2=F2E:@?D 2?5 6IA2?5:?8 C6G6?F6 DEC62>D 2C6 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 2 >2EFC:?8 >2C<6E H96C6 =628F6D[ DA@?D@CD[ 2?5 >65:2 A2CE?6CD 2C6 3F:=5:?8 7@C =@?8\E6C> DF446DD] %9@D6 H9@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 5:DE:?4E 5J?2>:4D @7 H@>6?VD DA@CED 92G6 2 F?:BF6 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ D92A6 2 >@C6 C6D:=:6?E[ 4@>>6C4:2==J C@3FDE 64@DJDE6> E92E 42? 5C:G6 8C@HE9 7@C J62CD E@ 4@>6]Qk^Am
kAm— k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcedhbf_\`U2>Aj9l`dghe_cddU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]56=@:EE6]4@>TauFDTau6?Tau23@FETauA6@A=6TauAC@7:=6D]2=:4:2\92E49Taqhc527ec7]9E>=U2>Aj2lp=:4:2Zw2E49Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmp=:4:2 w2E49k^2m[ &$ $A@CED r9:67 r@>>6C4:2= ~77:46C 2?5 (@>6?VD $A@CED {6256C[ s6=@:EE6 r@?DF=E:?8 {{!k^Am
kAmr@??64E H:E9 FD @? {:?<65x?i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcedhbf_\`U2>Aj9lcabg`gedg`U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]=:?<65:?]4@>Tau:?Tau=2C2\23C2D9TauU2>Aj2l{2C2Zp3C2D9Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm{2C2 p3C2D9k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcedhbf_\`U2>Aj9l`cfe__fd_`U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]=:?<65:?]4@>Tau:?Tau2=:4:292E49TauU2>Aj2lp=:4:2Zw2E49Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmp=:4:2 w2E49k^2mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp3@FE s6=@:EE6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAms6=@:EE6 AC@G:56D :?5FDECJ\=625:?8 2F5:E[ 4@?DF=E:?8[ E2I 2?5 25G:D@CJ D6CG:46D E@ >2?J @7 E96 H@C=5VD >@DE 25>:C65 3C2?5D[ :?4=F5:?8 ?62C=J h_T @7 E96 u@CEF?6 d__® 2?5 >@C6 E92? h[___ &]$]\32D65 AC:G2E6 4@>A2?:6D] pE s6=@:EE6[ H6 DEC:G6 E@ =:G6 @FC AFCA@D6 @7 >2<:?8 2? :>A24E E92E >2EE6CD 7@C @FC A6@A=6[ 4=:6?ED[ 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D] (6 3C:?8 E@86E96C 5:DE:?4E E2=6?ED[ E649?@=@8:6D[ 5:D4:A=:?6D[ 2?5 2? 64@DJDE6> @7 2==:2?46D E@ 96=A E24<=6 E@52JVD >@DE 4@>A=6I 3FD:?6DD 492==6?86D 2?5 5C:G6 =@?8\E6C> AC@8C6DD] s6=@:EE6 :D AC@F5 E@ 36 A2CE @7 E96 =2C86DE 8=@32= AC@76DD:@?2= D6CG:46D ?6EH@C< D6CG:?8 @FC 4=:6?ED :? E96 >2C<6ED E92E 2C6 >@DE :>A@CE2?E E@ E96>] qC:?8:?8 >@C6 E92? `g_ J62CD @7 D6CG:46[ @FC ?6EH@C< @7 >6>36C 7:C>D DA2?D >@C6 E92? `d_ 4@F?EC:6D 2?5 E6CC:E@C:6D] {62C? 9@H s6=@:EE6VD 2AAC@I:>2E6=J cf_[___ A6@A=6 H@C=5H:56 4@??64E 7@C :>A24E 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcedhbf_\`U2>Aj9l``dde_``eeU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauHHH]56=@:EE6]4@>TauU2>Aj2lHHH]56=@:EE6]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmHHH]56=@:EE6]4@>k^2m]k^Am
kAms6=@:EE6 C676CD E@ @?6 @C >@C6 @7 s6=@:EE6 %@F496 %@9>2EDF {:>:E65[ 2 &z AC:G2E6 4@>A2?J =:>:E65 3J 8F2C2?E66 WQs%%{QX[ :ED ?6EH@C< @7 >6>36C 7:C>D[ 2?5 E96:C C6=2E65 6?E:E:6D] s%%{ 2?5 6249 @7 :ED >6>36C 7:C>D 2C6 =682==J D6A2C2E6 2?5 :?56A6?56?E 6?E:E:6D] s%%{ W2=D@ C676CC65 E@ 2D Qs6=@:EE6 v=@32=QX 5@6D ?@E AC@G:56 D6CG:46D E@ 4=:6?ED] x? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ s6=@:EE6 C676CD E@ @?6 @C >@C6 @7 E96 &$ >6>36C 7:C>D @7 s%%{[ E96:C C6=2E65 6?E:E:6D E92E @A6C2E6 FD:?8 E96 Qs6=@:EE6Q ?2>6 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 E96:C C6DA64E:G6 277:=:2E6D] r6CE2:? D6CG:46D >2J ?@E 36 2G2:=23=6 E@ 2EE6DE 4=:6?ED F?56C E96 CF=6D 2?5 C68F=2E:@?D @7 AF3=:4 244@F?E:?8] !=62D6 D66 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcedhbf_\`U2>Aj9l`g``fcfh_aU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauHHH]56=@:EE6]4@>Tau23@FEU2>Aj2lHHH]56=@:EE6]4@>Tau23@FEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmHHH]56=@:EE6]4@>^23@FEk^2m E@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE @FC 8=@32= ?6EH@C< @7 >6>36C 7:C>D]Â k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56CaQmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>>2]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^af__`ae^s6=@:EE60%@86E96C0>2<6D0AC@8C6DD0{@8@]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk^2mk^Amk^5:Gm
kA :5lQ!&#{Qmk:>8 E:E=6lQr:D:@?Q H:5E9lQ`aQ 96:89ElQ`aQ 2=ElQr:D:@?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^:>8^72G:4@?]A?8nD?l}*ahaaaU2>AjD5la_ae\_c\_gQ ^m ':6H @C:8:?2= 4@?E6?E E@ 5@H?=@25 >F=E:>65:2ik2 :5lQ!#}&#{Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^56=@:EE6\8=@32=\H@>6?D\6=:E6\DA@CED\4@?E:?F6\E@\492?86\E96\82>6\H:E9\C6G6?F6D\6IA64E65\E@\C6249\2E\=62DE\FDb\3:==:@?\8=@32==J\:?\a_ae\b_afbeahf]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^56=@:EE6\8=@32=\H@>6?D\6=:E6\DA@CED\4@?E:?F6\E@\492?86\E96\82>6\H:E9\C6G6?F6D\6IA64E65\E@\C6249\2E\=62DE\FDb\3:==:@?\8=@32==J\:?\a_ae\b_afbeahf]9E>=k^2mk^Am
kAm$~&#rt s6=@:EE6k^Am
kAmk:>8 2=ElQQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^CE]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^CE]8:7n}6HDxE6>x5l}*ahaaaU2>Aj%C2?D>:DD:@?0x5la_ae_c_g___`!#0}t($0&$!#00000}*ahaaaU2>Ajs2E6x5la_ae_c_gQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci_AIj H:5E9i`AIj 96:89Ei`AIjQ ^mk^Am
