Friday, March 8 marks International Women’s Day and while we know Serena Williams and Simone Biles are leading the way, here are five women whose names you may not know but they’re changing sports for the better.
Seriously accomplished,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. What can’t this gal do? Jessica Mendoza is one of the most decorated softball players of all times, with career accomplishments that include an Olympic gold medal. She was the first woman to ever call an MLB (Major League Baseball) game, and now she’s keeping her broadcaster role at “Sunday Night Baseball” all while working a second job as a special assistant to the New York Mets. TWICE THE TALENT
2. NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is on the forefront of diversity with its “Drive For Diversity” program. The program seeks to identify the next Danica Patrick but it’s doing more than seeking out drivers, it’s searching for talent for all roles in racing. In this year’s Daytona 500, the program brought us a first. College athletes turned gearheads, Brehanna Daniels and Breanna O’Leary, were the first female tire changers in the Daytona 500. FAST CARS, STRONG WOMEN
3. Becky Hammon is setting the NBA (National Basketball Association) on fire. She’s currently the assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs but she’s also the first female to win the Summer League Championship (NBA’s development league) as a head coach. If that’s not enough, she’s the first woman to ever interview for an NBA head coaching job and it’s only a matter of time until she’s hired. SLAM DUNK
4. Pacing the sidelines is the NFL’s (National Football League) first female coach, Jen Welter. Welter tackled homelessness on her way to the NFL and now serves as one of the first female coaches in the AAF (Alliance of American Football). The brand-new football league employs three female coaches. MAKING THINGS HAPPEN
5. Earlier this year, Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield was the first woman to compete in the NHL (National Hockey League) All-Stars Skills Competition. She then landed a spot as an NHL analyst, becoming the only current U.S. women’s player with a recurring role on a national network, and a spot on the all-female broadcast of NHL Now. HOCKEY IS FOR EVERYONE
LADIES FIRST, NEWS NOW
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