Although the accent is on the men of the NBA All Star Weekend, the women in sport took the stage at the new Golden State Valkyries training center on Thursday.
Large names in female sports have gathered in the establishment to discuss the growing impact of women in sports and the way they open the way.
“We can be loved and looked at if we are just ourselves without trying to be what people have told us to have 6:07 pm and I think you see the remanence of this in the power of the growth of female sports in This moment, “said Jess Smith, president of the GSV.
The leaders highlighted the importance of representation, investment and equity in female sports. They also highlighted the previous challenges of attracting investors, the time of television antenna and the overall appreciation.
“It is not only the right thing to do, it is a good commercial decision, and if 80% of each decision to purchase consumers of households is taken by a woman, why not support a female league”, said Cathy Engelbert, the WNBA commissioner.
Engelbert said that only five years ago, 1% of the dollars of companies went to female sports, which represented less than 5% of all media coverage.
However, it changes quickly.
“We could not be in a better place with regard to investment in the WNBA, whether it be our owners and our existing construction practice facilities as we are here in the practice facilities in Valkyries, or the investment Who arrives in the expansion teams in the world, “she said.
The GSV helps to mark this, because the tickets for the opening day in May are already sold, and a commitment of 22,500 season ticket deposits before the season bolt.
“When you think of these 22,500 deposits, less than 5% cross the warriors’ season. Even sport, it really unlocked a game book,” said Smith.
Despite growth, Engelbert said there was still trouble overcoming.
“Well, the challenges continue to be vitriol and hatred of social media for women and women in color and women in our league and LGBTQ +, and it’s so unacceptable, (but) as our players are Having become more and more famous, growth is great, but we have to protect them, “she said.
Over the next 18 months, the Bay region will welcome the Stars weekend, the Super Bowl 2026 and the FIFA World Cup.
The host committee of the Bay region is responsible for bringing major events in the region and now seeks to take advantage of these games to bring more female sports in the Bay region.
“The next series of events, what we want to do is start to make sure that the message is seen by many people, and we get more sporting events in bay, more sporting events for women in The bay, “said Zaileen Janmohamed, president of the committee.