International Women's Day: 5 reasons to be proud of women's sports

In the wake of International Women’s Day 2024, seismic shifts are evident in the world of women’s sports.

From skyrocketing game attendance to shattered records to skyrocketing attendance, things have changed irrevocably.

As investment flows in and awareness of women's sport grows, it becomes increasingly important to celebrate the progress and remarkable achievements of women in this field.

In 2023, seven-time 100m sprint national champion Zoe Hobbs broke her own personal and national record five times to make history at the Regiprint International Championship in Switzerland. He achieved a record time of 10.96 seconds. This breakthrough performance not only earned her a spot at the 2024 Paris Summer Games, but also made her the first Oceanian female athlete to break her 11-second barrier in the 100m dash. If Hobbs competes in Paris, she will be the first female sprinter from New Zealand in almost 50 years.

At the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, New Zealand swimmer Erica Fairweather won three medals, including a bronze medal in the 800m freestyle and a previous win in the 400m freestyle, as well as a silver medal in the 200m freestyle. won a medal. Meanwhile, Courtney Duncan claimed her fourth title in the Women's Motocross World Championship series, while track cyclist Ellesse Andrews claimed her first World Championship title with a thrilling victory in the keirin final in Glasgow.

The 2023 Women's World Cup sparked unparalleled enthusiasm among spectators in Australia and New Zealand, captivating soccer fans like never before. Despite a tough battle marked by infighting with the federation and managers, Spain defeated England's Lionesses in a thrilling final to win the tournament for the first time.

With 64 matches played in 10 stadiums and a total attendance of 1,978,274 spectators, the event broke previous attendance records by more than 500,000 people and exceeded FIFA's ticket sales target of 1.5 million tickets. After years of financial losses, the Women's World Cup has finally broken even, generating a staggering $570 million in revenue ahead of the final.

Both the hosting teams, the Football Ferns and the Matildas, experienced an unprecedented level of support, with stadiums packed to capacity throughout the tournament, demonstrating the unmistakable soccer fever that swept the nation. New Zealand celebrated their first World Cup win and the Matildas reached the semi-finals for the first time in history.

When you think of a sports team that has sold out 13 games in a row, you don't usually think of the women's soccer team. But it was a feat achieved by Australia's acclaimed women's football team, the Matildas, who defeated Uzbekistan 10-0 in an Olympic qualifier in front of 54,120 fans in Melbourne. That's because of the momentum they built at their home World Cup.

Arsenal Women's average attendance at Women's Super League games has soared to nearly 35,000 this season, thanks in part to a strategic decision to hold some home matches at the Emirates Stadium. The move paid off, as the stadium is normally reserved for men's teams. The women's team currently attracts more than half of all men's Premier League clubs in attendance. By playing five of their eight home league games at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal Women's team saw an impressive 63 per cent increase in ticket sales compared to the previous season.

The University of Nebraska had a crowd of 92,003 fill Memorial Stadium for its volleyball game against Omaha on Wednesday, setting a world record for the largest confirmed attendance at a women's sporting event.

In a milestone moment, tall Fern Charliss Leger-Walker made history as New Zealand's top scorer in NCAA Division I basketball during the Washington State game in January. At just 22 years old, she surpassed Erin Rooney's record with her total of 1666 points, cementing her place in basketball legend.

In another landmark feat, American player Caitlin Clark took the title of NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer by surpassing even legendary “Pistol” Pete Maravich in a recent game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Achieved. Excitement over Clark's remarkable accomplishment has driven ticket prices to unprecedented highs, with the average price of a single ticket per game at a whopping $650, fueling enthusiasm among women's basketball fans. It is proof that

Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu faced off in an unprecedented 3-point shootout, with Curry scoring 29 points to win Saturday night's All-Star game. Despite the loss, Ionescu made a shot with a WNBA ball from the NBA line instead of the women's line, making her the second-highest scorer in the NBA 3-point contest in 2024.

The past year has seen a marked shift in the perception and admiration of women who compete in elite sport after becoming mothers. Grand Slam tennis champions Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki exemplified this trend with their impressive comebacks after giving birth.

Similarly, at the FIFA Women's World Cup, soccer moms like Alex Morgan (USA), Katrina Gory (Australia) and Irene Paredes (Spain) left their mark on the field. Many of these athletes brought their babies with them to challenge stereotypes and demonstrate that motherhood doesn't prevent them from excelling in sports.

This trend is not limited to tennis and soccer, but can also be seen in Black Ferns and Super Rugby players Chelsea Semple and Charmaine Smith, who have returned to the game after giving birth. Their experiences have given them new perspectives and a deeper appreciation for their sport, breaking barriers and inspiring others along the way.

Bonnie Jansen I am a multimedia journalist for the NZME Sports team. An avid footballer, she was active in the Alternative Commentary Collective and participated in Te Rito's cadet scheme before becoming a full-time journalist.