New York, NY (October 12, 2022) – Tonight, the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) celebrated the extraordinary achievements of athletes and sports leaders and the girls they inspire at its annual Salute to Women in Sport Day. Billed as the biggest night in women’s sports, the event, like the foundation’s program throughout the year, highlighted the 50th anniversary of Title IX while drawing attention to the critical need for more progress. Tonight, the WSF’s signature Salute Awards honored athletes who made history – Sunisa Lee, Maggie Steffens and Elana Meyers Taylor – Dawn Staley, one of the hottest coaches in the SEC, and Alexis Ohanian, the lead founding investor of Angel City FC. The Salute was held at Pier Sixty on the Manhattan waterfront and was presented by WSF National Partners Athleta, ESPN, Delta Air Lines, Gatorade, Michelob ULTRA, NBC Sports and TIAA, along with exclusive host partner DraftKings.
Throughout the night, the Foundation took time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, reflect on the progress made and the work yet to be done to achieve a truly equitable future for all girls and women in sports. The foundation’s research report, “50 Years of Title IX: We’re Not Done Yet,” released earlier this year found that while girls’ participation in sports is nearly 12 times what it was when the law was passed in 1972, boys still have far fewer opportunities to participate in sports than they did 50 years ago. Today, girls miss out on an estimated 1 million sports opportunities in high school compared to boys. This opportunity gap is greatest among girls and women of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and people with disabilities—who consistently experience fewer opportunities than their peers. Tonight’s event reminded everyone that the Foundation’s important work is critically needed as they strive to build a future where every girl and woman can play, be active and reach their full potential.
“The Women’s Sports Foundation is a guardian angel and champion of Title IX and fully understands and agrees with its decades-long mission to ensure true equality for girls and women,” said WSF Founder Billie Jean King. “I am inspired by this remarkable group of honorees who are breaking records, breaking down barriers and paving the way for a brighter future for girls and women in sport and beyond.”
The Foundation’s coveted awards and this year’s honors were:
The Sportsman of the Year Award – Team, presented by Clara Wu Tsai and Joe Tsai, and the Sportswoman of the Year Award – Individual, presented by Delta Air Lines, recognize athletes (in both team and individual sports) who demonstrated exceptional athletic performance throughout the year. the last 12 months.
.@maggiesteffens is a finalist for Athlete of the Year at tonight’s #WSFAnnualSalute . He talked about the impact @theAshJohnson had on #waterpolo when he won the award in 2016. @WomensSportsFdn pic.twitter.com/Y8ngZiKilS
.@brenda4villa on the red carpet at the #WSFAnnualSalute shares the impact of the event, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of #TitleIX and #HispanicHeritageMonth pic.twitter.com/eYAAhGAT8s
Presented by Athleta, the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award recognizes a female athlete or team that demonstrates exceptional courage in their athletic performance, demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity, makes a significant contribution to the sport and is a role model.
In partnership with the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, the Billie Jean King Leadership Award, presented by Y. Michele Kang, recognizes an individual or group that demonstrates outstanding leadership and makes a significant contribution to the advancement of women through achievement in sports and the workplace.
TIAA’s Equality Champion Award recognizes an individual or organization that demonstrates an unwavering commitment to gender equality and the advancement of girls and women in sport.
More information about the honorees and their awards can be found here.
In addition to the awardees, the evening featured a special star-gazing experience featuring some of the nation’s top athletes, including Alysia Montaño, Toni Breidinger, Grete Eliassen, Jessica Long and more. The evening was hosted by Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Mary Carillo, three-time Olympic medalist in soccer, Julie Foudy and award-winning basketball analyst LaChina Robinson. Award presenters included longtime softball player and coach Sue Enquist, track and field Paralympian Scout Bassett and the first female NFL Honors Game Changer Award winner, Sam Gordon. Each presenter, presenter and award winner shared their unique Title IX story, highlighting the impact of the landmark law and the urgent need to protect it.
“Tonight was not only about deserving attention for all the glass-breaking achievements, but also about paying tribute to the pioneers and advocates of Title IX whose vision, ingenuity and determination got us to where we are today,” said Danette Leighton. , CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation. “As transformative as Title IX has been, its full promise has yet to be realized. It is critical for everyone—especially younger generations—to understand their rights to equal access and opportunity, to be vigilant in ensuring those rights are respected, and not to take them for granted. We leave tonight energized and ready to carry Title IX for the next 50 years, remaining steadfast and steadfast in our mission to help girls and women reach their full potential in sports and in life.”
Learn more about Salute here.
From the Women’s Sports Foundation
Players Mentioned
Maggie Steffens
Players Mentioned
Maggie Steffens
