New podcast explores how women in sports are Changing the Game

Nancy Armour

| USA TODAY

Sports are more than just fun and games. They’re a means for change.

It’s been nearly 50 years since Title IX was passed in the United States, opening gymnasiums and playing fields to girls and women. It is no coincidence that, since then, the number of women with college degrees has increased, as have women’s earnings. There are more female executives.

“Changing the Game” is a new podcast from USA TODAY Sports, sponsored by Artistry Studio exclusively from Amway, that explores how sports has fueled the gains women have made – and why we need to keep pushing for equality and acceptance.

Guests include Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, basketball coach Muffet McGraw, WNBA player Nneka Ogwumike, NBA broadcaster Doris Burke, BMX rider Chelsea Wolfe, former NFL coach Jen Welter, professional golfer Cheyenne Woods, and Olympic swimmer Simone Manuel.

Participating in sports teaches women leadership skills, and bolsters their self-esteem and self-worth. It opens their minds to possibilities they might otherwise never imagine.

It also shapes how society views women.

If you saw McGraw on the sidelines when she was the coach at Notre Dame, you know a woman is every bit as capable of being a leader or running a company as a man.

Sports also provides women with a platform to raise their voices and set an example. When Simone Manuel explains how limiting stereotypes can be, you’ll see the power of representation.

“Changing the Game” is a celebration of how far women have come because of sports. But it’s also a call to action to do better, not only for the next generation of female athletes, but for women everywhere.