Honoring Trailblazers: 4 Notable Women In Sports
From the tennis courts of Wimbledon to the soccer fields of the FIFA World Cup, the journey of women in sports is a testament to courage, determination, and breaking barriers. Seeing women in sports made me want to be an athlete when I was younger. When I was younger, I played soccer, softball, and swimming.
Over time women’s sports have been gaining more views from the most viewed WNBA draft, 2.446 million viewers, to the Women’s World Cup, 2 billion worldwide viewers. Down below are four notable women in sports:
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King, also known as BJK, is an American former world No. 1 tennis player, born on November 22, 1943. She won a remarkable 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women’s doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles.
King was a member of the victorious United States team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups.
Beyond her impressive career on the court, King is also a renowned advocate for gender equality and social justice. She famously won the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match against Bobby Riggs in 1973. King founded the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation, and she was instrumental in securing sponsorship for women’s tennis in the 1970s. Her contributions to the sport and society led to her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.
Alex Morgan
Alex Morgan, born on July 2, 1989, in San Dimas, California, is an American professional soccer player who has made significant contributions to the sport. She became the youngest member of the U.S. women’s national soccer team in 2009 and was the first overall pick in the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer draft.
Morgan earned her first Olympic gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games by helping the U.S. women defeat Japan. Despite an injury, she helped the Americans win the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and four years later, she tied for the tournament high with six goals to help the U.S. claim its second straight World Cup crown.
Currently, she plays as a striker for the San Diego Wave FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women’s professional soccer in the United States. Her speed, strength, and leadership have made her one of the leading scorers in the sport.
Meredith Marakovits
Marakovits has spent years covering some of the biggest teams and events in Major League Baseball. She is best known for her work as a reporter and host for the YES Network, where she covers the New York Yankees. Marakovits is known for her insightful commentary and engaging interviews. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in baseball throughout her career.
She has worked in various roles including being an anchor and program contributor for SportsNet New York, a contributor for WFAN “The Fan” radio, and a fill-in anchor for NBC Sports Boston.
Marakovits has been awarded multiple New York Emmy Awards for her coverage of the Yankees. In 2015, she was named one of the “Top Women in Media” by Cynopsis Sports. Her hard work, dedication, and success in a male-dominated field have made her a role model for women in sports journalism.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams is an American former professional tennis player. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. These achievements and her influence make Serena Williams a notable woman in sports. She has not only excelled in her sport but also paved the way for future generations.
She has won more Grand Slam singles titles (23) than any other woman or man during the open era. This includes a record 13 Grand Slam singles titles on hard court. She holds the Open Era record for most women’s singles titles at the Australian Open (7) and shares with Chris Evert the Open Era record for most titles won at the US Open (6).
Serena Williams is famous for revolutionizing women’s tennis with her powerful style of play. Williams is the only singles player, male or female, to accomplish a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles Serena has inspired kids of color to take part in youth programs and begin playing tennis
Who is your favorite woman in sports? Let us know in the comments!