Back in 2022 I contributed to The Associated Press’ wide-ranging series of stories to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
My part of the project was a story on former USWNT Briana Scurry, whose jersey from the 1999 Women’s World Cup victory was included in a display about the impact Title IX had on leveling the playing field.
Scurry credits Title IX for helping give her the opportunities to shine at UMass Amherst and earn a spot on the national team (Here’s my story from back then, and a good read is Scurry’s book, “My Greatest Save” co-authored by Sam Coffey’s dad, Wayne Coffey).
Billie Jean King was among those who pushed for passage of the law and even testified before Congress. She’s been a tireless advocate for equity in sports and education ever since.
Today, her activism continues, and I’d argue is just as important as ever. Since I am in Portland, King pointed to the Thorns during our conversation for the AP.
“All of these young women who play for the Thorns, you know, most of them are not Sophia Wilson, right? They can’t just go from high school directly to the pros. So the majority of them still go to college and they still get the benefits of Title IX at the university level,” King said.
A few weeks ago for Soccer Monday I wrote about an attack on Title IX by the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind Project 2025.
But it goes beyond that. The $2.8 billion settlement that distributed name, image and likeness back pay to universities and established revenue sharing for schools has been the subject of debate over whether Title IX should apply. The Trump administration issued guidance that NIL money didn’t fall under the law.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’re going to have to figure it out because I don’t think it’s going to help girls. You know, maybe it is. It’s going to help girls, but not to the same extent as the boys. So that’s not right either. Should be it should be equality wherever we go in life,” King said.
King has her own foundation and was also a founder of the Women’s Sports Foundation; both organizations work to further equity in sports and education.
King has also partnered with Dove’s Body Confident Collective with other athletes and leaders, including former soccer star Mia Hamm and South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, to help young girls remain in sports.
“What I always worry about: you’ve got to keep the girls in the sports. You’ve got to keep them thinking, having self-confidence,” Kind said. “I think when you don’t have self-confidence in your body, you don’t do well in other things either. I think it just permeates.”
And, again, there’s that familiar drumbeat, that women’s sports needs greater investment. While there’s been a general rise in interest in and investment around women, it is still just the beginning.
“Excluded is what we’ve been for all these centuries, but now we’re included, and now we’re looked at as a great investment. But we’re still minuscule compared to what men have got. But look at the years they have behind them. You know, you look at the NBA it is 75 years old. The WNBA is only 30 years old. See, there’s a there’s a patience factor you have to have,” King said.
King has that patience, to keep building, to keep advocating. Because women haven’t reached the finish line.
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Links
The Guardian looks at Esther Gonzalez’s move
Some NWSL matches will be on Roku
Was WAFCON result a good sign for African women’s soccer?
The Boston Legacy will spend next season in Rhode Island
The Athletic looks at the over-performing, and under-performing, player in the NWSL
Temwa Chawinga wants an NWSL championship, not just another MVP
The crowded calendar next season could test women’s soccer sustainability
The Defector takes on the NWSL’s Golden Boot race
German football remains male dominated
Lucy Bronze says football must be protected for fans
Soccer: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer
Tennis: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer
Basketball: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The IX Sports
Softball: Maren Angus-Coombs, @Maren-Angus, The IX Sports
Golf: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX Sports
Hockey: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden
Gymnastics: Jessica Taylor Price, @jesstaylorprice, Freelance Writer
