The Unlevel Playing Field in Sports

In 2019, the US women’s national soccer team made headlines when they filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and unfair pay against the United States Soccer Federation. The Women’s National Basketball Association attacked this problem, too, when they fought for a new collective bargaining agreement that would improve their players’ salaries, working conditions and benefits.

This type of discrimination is hardly new. There is a lack of funding for women in most industries. The gender gap in science research funding is rough. Startups led by women receive only 2.3% of venture capital funding. And if that isn’t frustrating enough, a McKinsey analysis found that women’s jobs are 1.8 times more vulnerable than men’s during the pandemic. 

It hurts to type these statistics, but it’s important that we acknowledge the realities of discrimination, pay disparity and inequity. Recognizing the problem lights the fire that encourages people—people like you—to fight for what you and those around you deserve. And what better time to think about this than Women’s History Month?

On my podcast, Simplexity, professional athletes Sue Bird and Elizabeth Williams chat with me about how soccer and basketball have evolved over the years and why access to sports is so important for girls and women. You can catch their unique stories on the podcast, but first, let’s take a look at how unlevel the playing field really is.

LACK OF FUNDING

When our national teams began fighting for better pay, the reality of the problem was splashed across Twitter and the media outlets that covered the story. But in most cases, women’s sports are kept off of our screens. Though women make up 40% of participation in all sports, just 3.2% of media coverage is devoted to them. This lack of attention isn’t because the women’s teams are subpar, either. The US women’s soccer team, for example, outperforms the men in every arena. They regularly win the World Cup, and their players are consistently ranked #1 in the world.

And yet the US Men’s Team earns a bonus that is 5.6x the US Women’s team’s bonus when they win the World Cup. The WNBA’s numbers are just as staggering. The average starting salary for men in the NBA is $560,000, and the average salary across the board is $6.4 million. For women in the WNBA, the average salary is $71,635...and the most they can make (after being in the league for at least six years) is $115,500. That means a rookie NBA player makes $444,500 more per year than a veteran WNBA player. It’s hard to wrap your head around.

The disparity isn’t just the money, either. Safety conditions for women’s teams and the accommodations they receive when playing are also grossly out of line. Luckily, the WNBA had success renegotiating their deal recently, so we’re starting to see some positive movement.

Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and easy times in amateur sports, either. The truth is that the frustrations professional female athletes face are troubles they began experiencing in school. Schools provide 1.13 million fewer chances for girls to play sports compared to boys, and that number hasn’t improved much in the last decade.

Despite this, my podcast guests—both impressive female athletes themselves—stress the importance of encouraging girls and women to get on the field. The benefits are clear.

SKILLS GIRLS LEARN WHEN THEY PLAY SPORTS 

Though the current state of equity in women’s sports may seem bleak (I have hope it will get better!), motivating young girls to participate in athletics should still be on our radar. The skills and long-term benefits they gain break down into a few categories.

Interpersonal skills. Joining a sports team, especially if the athletic career continues into adulthood, exposes girls to people of different races, religions, sexual orientations, and cultural backgrounds. My podcast guests say that one of the biggest benefits of playing professional sports is the opportunity to develop an interest in different countries and cultures through your diverse teammates. From the court to the field, sports teams provide a place to meet new people and make new friends. It’s also a safe place to learn to take criticism effectively.

Improved physical and mental health. We chat a little on Simplexity about how current professional teams are managing the mental health of their athletes because mental health struggles happen in every industry. In schools, though, participation in sports has been linked to a decrease in depression and suicidal ideation in girls. The health benefits don’t stop there. Young female athletes are 20% less likely to develop breast cancer later in life, and the increase in bone mass they gain through athletic activity reduces the likelihood of osteoporosis down the line. Regular exercise can also achieve this, but the interpersonal and career skills come directly from the team atmosphere.

Increased career opportunities. Girls don’t have to keep the jersey on until adulthood in order to reap the benefits of playing sports. A history of high school athletics is associated with 14% higher wages later in life. Executive women often attribute their success to sports, too. A study of 401 businesswomen found that 82% believed their time on high school teams, intramurals, or recreational leagues helped them prepare for the business world.

THE PATH FORWARD 

There is a lot of work that needs to be done in women’s sports. Pay equity. Improved safety conditions. Benefit expansions like breastfeeding accommodations and reimbursements for adoption and surrogacy fees.

What we can do as individuals, though, is support girls and women in sports. Encourage girls to participate in school teams, intramurals, or recreational leagues if they are available and affordable to you. Cheer on your local teams to show support. Sponsor girls’ teams if that’s feasible for you. Fight for more availability in schools. Seek out the professional women’s teams in your area. Spread the word about the disparities in compensation and media coverage.

On Simplexity, Sue and Elizabeth give their first-hand accounts of what it’s like to be a professional female athlete. As Sue put it, “We do have compelling stories. You just haven’t heard them.” LEND AN EAR.