No More Empty Gymnasiums

Women’s Sports Lifted Up

I was filled with emotion at the end of the NCAA women’s basketball championship game. Not because of who won or who lost but because of the packed house, the cheers, and the dreams of every female young and old that had just come true.

As a high school athlete, though I use that term loosely, I had had those dreams. The boy’s teams stood at the center of the high school universe. For their games the bleachers were packed, the cheerleaders in full force, the student council was selling snacks in the lobby. People stomped on the wooden bleachers with excitement and banners hung throughout the gym of boy’s teams who once made their school proud. The rivalry between local schools ran deep and it all seemed weighted by their success on the court.

Fast forward to the varsity girls’ team games. The bleachers were nearly empty with the exception of a few moms including my own. The custodian walked about pushing a large dust mop waiting impatiently to lock up for the night.

But still the court was where I felt like I belonged. When I raced down to make a shot or rebound the ball I felt as if I was flying- literally flying. The ten people in the stands cheered and however empty the gymnasium was, our hearts were full of the love of the game and our teammates and life itself. But there remained a palpable feeling of being second or third or even fourth string. Back then we seemed to hold no visible importance in the life of the school!

But at last Sunday’s championship game the stadium was filled by some of the highest priced ticket holders in history- the game aired on ABC and ESPN prime time live with 6 female commentators and dozens of female scientists from NASA holding the American flag. Tears came to my eyes after the game when I heard the coach from South Carolina, Dawn Staley, share her thoughts with the world. What she said to the star player on the opposing team filled my heart ……. “I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport," the coach said. "She carried a heavy load for our sport and it just is not gonna stop here on the collegiate tour. But when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she's gonna lift that league up as well. So, Caitlin Clark if you're out there, you are one of the GOATs (greatest of all time) of our game. We appreciate you."

I am no longer a young woman with those dreams but I feel so lifted up for the dreams of all the young women to come. That, in my lifetime, I watched one of the most incredible games of my life- not due to the three pointers or rebounds or the cheers from the enthusiastic crowd- but because in that game so many hearts were allowed to dream and so many memories of empty gymnasiums were suddenly filled - that there lies on the horizon some hope for equality.

Thank you, Caitlin Clark, and all the women, young and old, who have stood up and worked hard and fought for women’s rights on and off the court! Not only in athletics but by promoting equality in every corner, crevice and court in our world!