Over the years, predominantly male sports have made efforts to elevate the status of women’s sports teams. Yet, despite these efforts, women’s sports teams remain excluded, undervalued, and discriminated against.
Following their gold medal win against Canada in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, the USA men’s hockey team received a congratulatory call from President Trump, in which he invited the team to the White House and the State of the Union address.
During the call, Trump sarcastically said that he would have to invite the women’s team as well, or he would likely be impeached, as if they didn’t rightfully deserve to be there for their incredible gold medal win three days prior.
To this, the men’s team was heard merely laughing. Laughing.
These women worked their entire lives, put in just as much effort and passion, and that is how they are seen by the leader of our country: as a punchline.
So, how much has the sports world even changed from years ago when women weren’t allowed to participate in sports? Sure, there are leagues designated for women, but where’s the attitude shift? The idea that every gender is equal simply hasn’t come yet when talking in terms of sports.
Women’s teams don’t get calls congratulating them for playing well and making America proud immediately after their wins. No. They get obligatory calls because otherwise there would be damage to someone else’s reputation.
That isn’t fair.
It isn’t fair to the over three million girls who play high school sports in the US. It isn’t fair to the over 200,000 women who play NCAA college sports.
It isn’t fair to the seven-year-old watching women win gold, dreaming of being one of those strong, fierce women someday.
Not only are female athletes disregarded and forced to the sidelines, but female sports fans are often questioned and ignored.
Women are shot down for showing their passion for sports. How often does a woman express support for a team and then face laughs and a round of trivia to prove they are truly interested in the sport? The answer is nearly always.
In hockey, they have been referred to as “puck bunnies,” a derogatory term that labels women as attention-seeking. It assumes that they only attend games for male attention and completely disregards true commitment and interest in sports.
We live in a world where empowerment is valued more than it is carried out.
Young girls are told they can do whatever they want if they put their minds to it, but that isn’t the case once they grow up. We can have as many Women in Sports Days and preach empowerment as much as we want, but if the actions of our leaders don’t back that up, then that’s all just meaningless words.
Misogyny in the sports world is not gone, even if we’re told otherwise.
It’s shown in the way we mentally categorize sports by gender, the pay gap, and by the way a female team could win Olympic gold three days before a male team, and yet be just another phone call to check off a list curated by men. •