Technically, March 31 marks the last day of Women’s Month. But here at The Michigan Daily, celebrating the accomplishments of women in sports doesn’t end when March does. The women on The Daily’s sports section never stop working to tell female athletes’, coaches’ and journalists’ stories. Here’s what Women’s Month means to us.
Taylor Daniels, Senior Sports Editor
I grew up as the only girl playing in all-boys baseball leagues, and took pride in representing women in sports every time I stepped into the batter’s box. In many ways, playing baseball shaped my identity from a young age. It opened my eyes to the inequality and difference in opportunities between men’s and women’s sports. Growing up, I didn’t often see representation of women’s athletes the way I did with men’s sports. Watching Connecticut women’s basketball on TV felt like the only high level of women’s sports I could envision myself playing at one day, besides the Olympics every few years. When I arrived at Michigan years later, I began noticing the same difference in media coverage that I saw growing up. Seeing the lack of care with the limited coverage of top teams frustrated me, and I knew it needed to change.
I first joined The Daily because I wanted to make a difference and improve the coverage of women’s sports. Writing about women’s sports is the chance to amplify the voices of female athletes, coaches and sports. I’ve been an athlete and sports fan for as long as I can remember, and The Daily is a platform for me to merge my passion with an opportunity to create meaningful change. Elevating the standard of coverage can create a lasting impact and uplift women in sports, whether they’re on the court or in the press conference. Women in sports are incredible and deserve to have their stories shared. What we do matters. Women’s Month is a time to uplift and share the stories of women in sports, create visible representation and build community for every girl on the Sports section. For anyone who’s ever questioned if they belonged, Women’s Month is proof that you do.
Lys Goldman, Senior Sports Editor
Sports have been a core part of my identity for as long as I can remember. Dreams of becoming a professional soccer player morphed into dreams of working in sports, and writing for The Daily has been the biggest step I’ve taken toward making those dreams come true. I am forever grateful for the community of women I’ve met over the past few years, and I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of that community. From publicly calling out the NCAA with three women by my side to reading all the inspiring Women’s Month content, I have learned the incredible importance of representation and diversity. I am honored to be part of this incredible project, and as I progress through my future career in this industry, I hope to continue seeing more platforms aimed toward uplifting and amplifying the voices and stories of women in sports.
Anna Miller, Senior Sports Editor
Being a woman in sports is something I’ve never taken lightly. From competing against boys in swim meets to growing up going to Portland Thorns and Portland Timbers games, I’ve always recognized the significance of being a woman in sports, both as a fan and an athlete. When people see women who are sports fans or women who want to compete, it changes perspectives on what a sports fan can look like. My love of sports grew from competing in them to using my voice to write about them, and I am so happy that my life led me to a point where I can advocate for the importance of women in sports with a platform.
Women’s Month is part of what has made me love The Daily, because it’s a time for women in the section to express themselves and show their own voices in their writing. There’s always room for creativity in typical game coverage, but the flexibility Women’s Month provides helps the women of the section figure out who they are as writers through telling other women’s stories. I am so amazed to see all of the incredible content the women of the section have put out this past month, and I’m so proud of each of them.
Niyatee Jain, Assistant Sports Editor
I grew up playing sports, but never was obsessed with professional sports. In fact, sports writing was something I just sort of fell into. In high school, with big dreams of being a journalist, I volunteered to be our newspaper’s sports editor. It was a lot of fun, but sports writing was never something I wanted to do professionally. When I came to Michigan, the dreams of being a journalist were quickly dwindling. I knew I wanted to continue writing, so I attended my first sports meeting at The Daily, which was quite the experience. It was scary, but I kept coming back, eventually involving myself more and more.
It can be hard navigating spaces that are predominantly male, but it’s even harder to navigate them as a woman of color. But, I never felt out of place. I found my closest friends. I’ve made crazy memories that I can’t imagine my college experience without. From a 10-hour road trip to College Park to cover the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament to the softball beat — where I give a women’s team the coverage they deserve — writing for The Daily has been a dream.
I still don’t want to be a sports writer after college, but I stay because the community makes me feel right at home. I felt like it was never possible to be successful in this field as a woman of color, but The Daily made it possible. And I’m so glad I joined.
Alina Levine, Assistant Sports Editor
The vast majority of my childhood was either spent in a pool or on the pool deck. While I dabbled in a lot of other sports early on, swimming was the only thing I truly loved, so I did it for 11 years.
My family isn’t a sports family. Aside from maybe two Super Bowls we watched, sports weren’t a part of our conversations. So up until I came to Michigan, all the sports knowledge I had, and media I consumed, revolved around swimming. That didn’t mean I wasn’t interested in the sports world — I was. But I never let myself explore because I simply didn’t think there was a space for me.
Then, I found The Daily. I didn’t have any intent of joining the sports section when I came to my first meeting. In fact, after that initial meeting, I’d never felt so incredibly out of place. But just as I was about to leave, I was approached by some of the women in the section, and it was those women who made me realize that I could — and deserved — to have a place at the table.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the incredible women I get the privilege of working alongside every day. They are some of my best friends and a constant reminder that women belong in sports. The Daily has allowed me to engage with the sports world in a way I never thought possible. It’s shown me that, regardless of my gender or the fact that I don’t know all there is to know about sports, I’m still worthy of being where I am today. And I couldn’t be more grateful.
Annabelle Ye, Assistant Sports Editor
Despite growing up in Ann Arbor, I never watched a Michigan football game in its entirety until my senior year of high school.
I hadn’t grown up in a sports family. While I dabbled in running, swimming and tennis throughout the years, it was never something I took seriously, and that indifference rang even more true when it came to watching sports.
But then my senior year of high school rolled around, and sports suddenly became my place of escapism. While I’d been grappling with the idea of heading off to college and my whole life changing, my friend started getting me into Michigan sports. Gradually, in the midst of a tumultuous time, sports became a medium of respite for me.
So when I moved onto campus the following fall, I spontaneously decided to join The Daily’s sports section. As soon as I stepped into my first sports meeting, a wave of imposter syndrome rushed over me. Yet, week after week, something about The Daily kept pulling me back, and I slowly became drawn to the people — particularly the community of women who made me feel a little less out of place.
I’d never thought that I’d be a woman working in sports. But in the past two years, this place, this job and the people I’ve met along the way have changed and empowered me in ways I didn’t know were possible. Having the privilege to cover Michigan athletics has meant everything to me. But above all, it’s shown me that despite my background, I deserve to be where I am.
Sydney Burnett, Daily Sports Writer
Growing up surrounded by many sports and countless ESPN reruns, I didn’t always see women’s sports given the spotlight they deserved. But what stuck with me most wasn’t just the lack of coverage, it was the lack of care in the coverage when it did exist. Writing for The Daily has given me the chance to approach women’s sports with the kind of thoughtfulness I always wished for as a younger athlete and fan.
Women’s Month reminds me how powerful it is to tell stories that aren’t always told — with context, with heart and with pride. Whether I’m covering a defender’s quiet leadership on the field or the ways a team bonds off of it, I get to show the beauty of women’s sports beyond the scoreboard. And what makes it even better is being surrounded by a team of writers who care just as much as I do. We’re not just reporting, we’re rewriting the standard.
Stephanie Corredor, Daily Sports Writer
Sports has always been more than a game to me. Growing up, I played softball, basketball and soccer, but soccer was always the sport that made me the happiest. I can still remember the pride and excitement that rushed through me every time I stepped onto the field. After playing my last soccer game in high school, it was a hard pill to swallow knowing that I would never experience that same rush again — the adrenaline of physically competing.
When I came to Michigan, I carried that love for sports with me, watching football games and taking a few sports-related classes. However, I missed the feeling of being truly immersed in sports. Thankfully, this all changed when I joined The Daily. Surrounded by other writers and other women who were just as passionate about sports as I was, I felt that same pride and excitement that I felt when I was 10 years old, chasing a soccer ball.
This year alone, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to cover women’s tennis, volleyball, and even a female track athlete’s journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics. If you had asked me before college if I had the courage, let alone the opportunity, to speak with college athletes, coaches, or an Olympian, I would never have believed it. I can’t thank The Daily enough, specifically the women of The Daily, for encouraging me to join the sports section and for giving me the platform to amplify women’s sports.
Campbell Coviello, Daily Sports Writer
I played every sport possible growing up. As a girl on Block Island — 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island with not much else to do — sports gave me a sense of community in a place that could often feel isolating. They were my outlet, my expression and my connection to the world beyond the island.
From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in the sports industry. My great-great-grandfather Ed Barrow was the general manager of the New York Yankees during the Babe Ruth dynasty. His legacy inspired me to chase my own path in sports, and with the encouragement of my family, I found my way to Michigan as a sport management major.
I didn’t expect to fall into writing when I arrived at Michigan. It wasn’t until my roommate encouraged me to check out The Daily that I discovered something just as meaningful to me as playing sports: telling their stories. From that first meeting I knew The Daily would give me purpose, community and a platform to grow. It is only the beginning at the Daily for me and it has already helped me find my voice as a writer, sharpen my perspective and connect with people and make friends who are just as passionate about sports and storytelling as I am.
Liza Cushnir, Daily Sports Writer
Growing up, I played all the same sports my older brother did. Playing and watching basketball, football and baseball, in that order of priority, took up a lot of my free time. And I loved it. I knew I was one of the only girls on my co-ed teams — and in the case of flag football, at times the only girl in the league — but for a while I was blissfully unaware that that meant people assumed I was worse than all my teammates just because of my gender. But one basketball season when I was around 10, I was one of three girls on my eight-person team, and the coach treated us like burdens, rather than equal members of his team. I vividly remember my mom storming over to the bench to ask the coach why he broke the league’s equal substitution rules and kept the three girls out for two periods in a row, an obvious violation of the substitution policy, and his response was simply “I’ll let them stay in twice in a row next time.” I realized then, on a small scale, what it meant to be a woman in sports. And I stopped playing co-ed basketball shortly thereafter.
What Women’s Month represents for me is the polar opposite of that experience. Instead of being belittled or dismissed for being women in a male-dominated arena, we’re celebrated. We get to work, alongside some of our closest friends, to elevate the stories and voices of female athletes, stories and voices that have gone under-appreciated for far too long. And for me, the best part is that there’s never a question of whether or not we belong, whether or not the work we do is valuable, or whether or not the stories we’re telling matter. Reading the amazing content that so many talented female writers have spent hours working on this month helps show everyone what we’ve all known all along: On and off the field, women belong in sports — and we’re damn good at what we do.
Ella Gurfein, Daily Sports Writer
My route to becoming a sports writer looked a little different than most others. I was never an athlete, which made me resent the part of myself that was knowledgeable about sports. I was also frequently assumed by my male peers to have little to no interest in sports given my stereotypically “girly” presence, which put me in a conflicted position as a child. However, the older I got, the more fixated on sports I got. I realized that having a passion for sports wasn’t just for athletes, and it especially wasn’t just for men. It was for fans like me who focused intently on the teams they loved and learned the art of the game through observation.
When I came to Michigan, I knew I wanted to write for The Daily, but I didn’t know which section I would ultimately end up at. Once I met the sports writers, I felt an immediate sense of belonging through their energy and friendships with one another. However, I would not have stayed on the section if it wasn’t for the older female writers who have served as role models, you have all shown me what it means to be a strong, focused woman in the sports industry. As I continue to write more stories and spend more time in the newsroom, I see a future for myself in sports writing, paving the way for other young girls like myself to chase their dreams and not let the background noise of unfair assumptions distract them. I hope to see a future where women are treated with equal respect in the sports industry because sports are for everyone.
Lucy Langerveld, Daily Sports Writer
When I was 9 years old, I took up the position of catcher on my local little league team. This position required building a strong connection with my pitching partner, to ensure that the force of her pitch pelted into my glove every time. What I loved most about the game was the look we gave each other through the batter’s arms when she hurled the third strike.
The feeling that I could work together with other young women to accomplish something was one that I continued to chase throughout my athletic ventures. I felt this spark when I saw my high school tennis partner ace a killer serve from behind my shoulder, and I feel it now when I lock eyes with one of my frisbee teammates and know we’re about to make a scoring pass. I thought that this addicting sensation could only come from physically competing with other women, but I was proven wrong when I joined The Daily sports section.
When I joined The Daily this year as a freshman, I had no intention of writing for the sports section, it was something I fell into out of a desire to simply write. However, I quickly found a sense of community among the other women writing for the sports section. This year, I’ve had the opportunity to cover the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament and record-setting lacrosse games alongside these women. The excitement of grabbing each other’s hands during a game-winning point or working through writing a difficult section together confirms that the spark is alive and well in the newsroom.
Claire LaVigne, Daily Sports Writer
I was 3 years old when I first stepped foot onto a soccer field. Only 16 months younger than my sister, my parents decided to put me on her team for convenience. The rest is simply history. From that moment until I graduated high school, there I was running around the soccer field, up and down the basketball court, setting the volleyball and hitting groundstrokes on the tennis court. My place on these teams was more than just the position I played, the points I scored or the final record at the end of the season — it was always about more. It was about the community I was engulfed in, the competition and emotion that came with it, the growth of the individual and the unit. The common thread that ties all of these memories together are the women — the women who played by my side, the women we watched on TV and the women we were becoming all the while.
I have come to realize the weight the team holds is greater than how the team performs. Lessons on how to win and lose, how discipline leads to greatness and picking up the women who fall no matter what jersey they wear is what goes beyond the boundaries of the court. To me, being a woman in sports means being a part of something much bigger than myself by supporting and being supported by the women around me. For the past 16 years, I have been surrounded by such strong, inspiring women that have shown me what it truly means to be a teammate long after the last whistle blows.
The Daily’s commitment to and push for female involvement in such a male-dominated industry has given so many sports lovers a new team to be on and the space to continue their passions.
Libby Le Febre, Daily Sports Writer
I have always found community in sports. I was the water girl for my dad’s basketball team, and I watched him coach every game from the bench with his players. I ate at my brother’s team dinners and traveled to all of his soccer tournaments. My parents enrolled me in soccer and tennis lessons as a young girl, and when I could finally start playing organized sports, I joined soccer, volleyball and tennis teams. For a long time, my life revolved around sports — countless hours of private and team practices ruled my schedule. My weeks were particularly packed with tennis drills and matches.
Although I had the opportunity to play tennis in college, I chose to come to the University of Michigan instead, trading my racket for a pen when I joined The Daily sports section. And I’m so glad I did. I may not be on a sports team but I have joined a team nonetheless. I feel a sense of community despite my retirement from sports, and that is thanks to the women on this section. I am so grateful that I am a part of a section that uplifts women’s sports and women covering sports. The Daily’s Women’s Month is proof of the supportive community that I witness every week.
Rekha Leonard, Daily Sports Writer
Through covering sports for The Daily, I have felt the power of community. When I first joined the section, I walked into a rowdy group of men and was immediately intimidated — even though I later became friends with almost all of them. But the community of women I found eased me into the section and helped me build connections with everyone. Not only does a shared love of sports bring us as a section together, but we build connections through our storytelling. And that’s what women’s month is all about. It’s a beautiful example of women uplifting women. Just as I was nervous walking into a sports section dominated by men, women athletes struggle to make their voices heard every day. As writers, we can use our position to alleviate a tiny fraction of that hardship by telling women’s stories without them having to fight for the coverage.
Mikaela Lewis, Daily Sports Writer
I never thought sports journalism would be an area of interest for me. I’ve loved playing and watching sports — especially ones intended for men — for as long as I can remember. All throughout high school, I was the only girl on my ice hockey team. When asked what sport I played, I’d proudly declare “hockey,” to be met with puzzled looks and follow up questions about field hockey. Even when I got to Michigan and my hockey days were behind me, I still craved the competition, so I continued my athletic career with rugby: another contact sport that many people couldn’t fathom women playing.
Despite my firsthand experience of how women are treated in the sports world, it never occurred to me that there was anything I could do about it. When medical retirement ended my playing days in January 2024, I was desperate to find a way to keep sports at the center of my life. I attended my first sports meeting at The Daily and expected the newsroom to be mostly men. To my surprise, there were plenty of women: writers, editors, even all four members of the men’s ice hockey beat.
One of the first articles I wrote — last women’s month — was about the burdens on Michigan women’s club hockey players. I started to realize that the media has a lot of power to create change. For me, writing for The Daily means empowering women in all parts of the sports industry and taking steps toward ensuring that the next generation of girls feel a sense of belonging in whatever sport they wish to play.
Kayla Lugo, Daily Sports Writer
On my first ever assignment, I shadowed multiple women journalists at a volleyball game against Bowling Green. I specifically picked volleyball because in my senior year of high school, I was on the volleyball team. It was amazing to shadow another woman at a woman’s sporting event. I didn’t know it at the time, but that shadow assignment would catapult me to a career I never imagined: sports journalist.
Before writing sports articles, I always dreamed of being an author writing the next mega-hit book series like J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter. Once I started writing sports articles frequently, those past dreams quickly got shredded and replaced with new, bigger dreams to become the greatest female sports journalist ever.
Not every dream is possible, though. One big deterrent is simply that sports journalism is male-dominant. I’m a woman who, despite having over a year’s worth of experience writing sports articles, still fear of being rejected when I start job applications simply because of my gender. But aside from the major shift in career, it encouraged me to cover more women’s sports.
Sophie Matthews, Daily Sports Writer
Before wanting to be a sports writer or a lawyer, or even a dentist, my dream was to be a soccer player. From the age of 4, the sport consumed my life. But it wasn’t until the age of 9 did I know that there were professional soccer players that looked just like me. Seeing the USWNT win the World Cup gave me this newfound love and admiration for what the world of soccer could do. Yet, it also taught me about the power of representation. I was in awe of their power and perseverance. I bought magazines with their faces on the cover, and above my bed was a poster of the entire team. The female soccer players demonstrated to me that I could really be anything I wanted. And I think that is something all girls deserve to have. Being a sports writer means more than just covering athletics. It means bringing a voice and platform to those who may not always get it. It means showcasing the highly talented people and their journey through life. And it means showing little girls, like I once was, that the world of sports is meant for them.
Kendall McCaskill, Daily Sports Writer
I didn’t always play sports. In fact, I was confined to tutus for the greater part of my childhood. I only joined in when I saw my triplet brothers’ deep passion and love for sports develop and wanted to see more Black female visibility. After that, it didn’t take long before I began trying sports like swimming and cross country to see what I liked. I eventually landed on basketball and volleyball, and soon enough, I was caught in the rapture. I began creating special bonds with my teammates, engaging in long battles, and even winning district championships — all things I had dreamed of prior to becoming an athlete. To me, being a woman in sports means showing resilience, intelligence, character and confidence. Now, being on the other side as a writer has only continued to amplify my love and passion for the game. Just like when I joined this section, women in sports are the thing that continues to inspire me.
Mackenzie Mielke, Daily Sports Writer
Sports have always been a part of my life and I knew from a young age, they would end up being my future. From my early school mornings of watching ESPN to the comforting TV noise of a football game on a Sunday afternoon, sports became intertwined to who I am as a person today. Growing up it took little time to see the drastic difference in both the support and media coverage for women’s sports compared to their male counterparts. When I joined The Daily, I was terrified that I was walking into a room that felt the same disdain for women in sports. The only thing I found was a community of women that made me feel welcome and celebrated. I feel honored in getting to play a role in sharing female athletes stories in a way that I never saw growing up. The women on this section have taught me that not only do we deserve a spot in the room, but our voices deserve to be heard. To me, Women’s Month is making sure that young girls like me don’t have to question whether they belong in the sports world, but know they already have a spot saved for them.
Ellie Richard, Daily Sports Writer
As a young girl, it never occurred to me that there was a difference between men and women’s sports. I watched every Washington Capitals hockey game with my dad. I played basketball with my brother everyday after school. I engaged in touch football games with the neighbors whenever I had the chance. Sports felt like a great equalizer to me — a common thread that connected me to people in my life that I cared about.
Then I was asked to “name three players.”
To the elementary school boy who asked me this question after I told him about my love of hockey, I have not forgotten about you. I still think about this moment from time to time. Why did I need to prove that I actually know and care about sports? Why did he seem surprised when I named the Washington Capitals starting lineup? My elementary school self simply could not wrap my head around the fact that women didn’t belong in the sports world because in my life they were always intimately connected. My love for sports never wavered.Whether I was playing soccer in pre school, basketball in elementary school, or field hockey in middle and high school, I always came back to sports. That reality rings true today, as I find myself venturing into the world of sports journalism at The Daily. Sports mean everything to me and being a woman doesn’t impact that. In this way, I guess my younger self was right after all.
Regina Roose, Daily Sports Writer
I can confidently say that sports have played a major role in shaping the person I am today. Growing up, I spent summers on softball fields in various states and winters playing in gyms or domes. I met multiple lifelong friends who I am lucky enough to call the sisters that I never had. Playing softball and other school sports allowed me to join a community that quickly turned into my second family.
My love of sports would not have been a reality without my dad. We always watched every major sporting event together and often attended Michigan football, basketball, and hockey games. He taught me everything I needed to know and the importance of sharing a love of sports with others. As a result, I have been fortunate enough to share my passion for sports with others through writing. I never imagined the incredible community that I would become a part of in this section and the amazing women that I would meet. The women in this section inspire me everyday, just as I was inspired by the broadcasters and athletes that I grew up watching on my TV screen.
Katie Rose, Daily Sports Writer
Growing up, I wasn’t the most athletic, but I always had a connection to sports. I remember playing soccer in first grade and kicking the ball towards the wrong goal. My parents cheered anyway, both surprised and excited that I actually kicked the ball. My mom, a Michigan alum, made sure to share her Michigan pride with both me and my sister by taking us to football games since I can remember. At first, I remember being there mainly for the fun and the food and was so confused by the game. But even through the tough seasons, especially the Brady Hoke era, I didn’t care about being confused and was always so excited to watch the players jump and hit the banner. As I grew older, I started to learn the rules of the game and fell in love with football and the tradition.
When I found out The Daily had a sports section, I was very excited. I’ve always loved writing and the idea to combine that with my growing passion for sports felt perfect. As a woman in sports journalism, it’s been refreshing to be in an environment where I can share my love of sports with others. I have found it empowering to be around an amazing group of women who share the same passion for sports that I do.
Molly Ross, Daily Sports Writer
Sports have always been more than just games to me. Growing up in a small suburb outside of Boston, sports were my entire life. As an avid Boston sports fan with a love for college sports — instilled in me by my parents, both University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin graduates — it’s been a B1G part of who I am. Not only did I grow up around championship teams, but I was also privileged to play. I started with ice hockey and lacrosse in first grade, later picking up field hockey, and I graduated high school with 12 varsity letters and a “C” sewn onto my jerseys. Sports have always represented more than just competition — they embody camaraderie, resilience, and determination. Through it all, I’ve witnessed firsthand the grit, teamwork, and enthusiasm that define women’s sports.
My love for sports journalism began during my freshman year of high school when I decided to write for the school paper, Wildcat Tracks. Over the next four years, I went from sports writer to editor-in-chief, and it became my goal to one day write for The Daily. Now, as a writer for The Daily, covering women’s field hockey and lacrosse allows me to give these incredible athletes the visibility they deserve, while staying connected to the sports that shaped me. Writing about Michigan’s women’s teams is especially meaningful because I grew up a Wolverines fan. Covering this program — one I’ve admired since childhood — feels extremely full circle.
During Women’s Month, I’m particularly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the growing recognition of women in sports. Their stories deserve to be told, and I’m honored to help make that happen. My ultimate goal is to one day report for the NHL and continue to elevate the visibility of women in sports everywhere.
Lyra Sharma, Daily Sports Writer
When I tell people that I am a sports writer, I am often met with one of three reactions: laughter, shock or confusion. Sometimes it’s understandable, because for many who truly know me, it’s a little strange to think that this is my college passion. After all, my status as former theater president and my usual pastimes of writing music and completing the computer science projects I have put off don’t exactly fit the profile. But other times, for those who don’t know me, their reactions are rooted in something else entirely.
I understand the confusion it brings many people, being not only a woman, but a woman of color, my passion doesn’t fit the usual perception of my culture and upbringing. And so I hid this part of myself for a long time, never leaving the four walls of my home.
But it was in that very home, from that very culture that my love of sports truly began. It was waking up early to watch the Cricket World Cup with my father, the late nights yelling about Rafael Nadal with my mother, and my brother’s fanaticism for soccer that defined my childhood. We were a sports family through and through, even if it didn’t align with the way this country might perceive us.
I don’t know what possessed me to join The Daily. Maybe I knew college was the opportunity for me to branch out and show this part of myself or maybe I was just bored. Whatever the reason, I know that this was the best decision I could have ever made, not only because of the fun I have and the friends I’ve made, but because with my pen I get to represent something bigger than myself.
Vily Souris, Daily Sports Writer
As a young athlete, I saw how important it is to empower the voice of women within sports. The resilience and integrity I learned from my coaches at a young age pushed me further in my athleticism and drives me to work harder even today.
I’ve gained a lot from my first Women’s Month at The Daily and all of my opportunities to speak to female coaches and athletes. Hearing their stories and amplifying voices inspires young athletes to find their own voices in the community. Women have fought their fair share of battles in the sports community from receiving adequate funding and resources to equal representation. Seeing passionate women drive sports forward makes me honored to tell even just a small piece of their stories.
Mirielle Wong, Daily Sports Writer
Growing up, it was the women in my life who taught me the ways of diehard sports fandom. For my Mother’s Day article last year, I wrote about how my mom passed her love for sports on to me, and yes, my mom is the one ultimately responsible for my obsession with all things sports. However, my maternal grandmother was a sports fanatic as well: She built her social schedule around college football and NFL kickoff times, and we’d talk on the phone after every Michigan football game. Today, my aunt is the one who holds the family season tickets to Michigan football and watches every away game with me.
But even surrounded by female sports fans, I mostly watched men’s sports growing up. Women’s sports simply weren’t available on the mainstream TV channels, and when they were, the surrounding coverage was lacking. When my sister and I delighted in Michigan softball’s run to the Women’s College World Series in 2013, The Daily was the place we went for our postgame reading fix. Having articles to read fed our excitement and passion for the team and the game of softball.
And that’s why Women’s Month at The Daily is so important. Coverage of women’s sports is still sorely lacking despite the progress that has been made since 2013. Women’s Month is an opportunity to spotlight the stories, accomplishments and accolades of Michigan’s women’s sports. It encourages us, as female sports writers, to go deeper in our coverage and write features that truly dive into the stories of these incredible athletes. It’s been a privilege to be a part of Women’s Month during my time at The Daily.
Grace Wright, Daily Sports Writer
Sports have always been a big part of my life. Whether it was yelling at the TV with my dad watching Notre Dame football or playing soccer on my high school’s junior varsity team, sports have always been a driving factor in my life. My family is one of those families that has an athletic gene running through them, my dad was a high school pole vaulting state champion and my mom ran Division I track. Both of my younger sisters are fierce competitors, one of them a sprinter in her own right and the other a killer on the volleyball court. Clearly, I’m the weakest link athletically. But I’ll always be the number one fan. Whether that means cheering for my sisters or for our favorite professional teams, I’ve always been entrenched in the sports world. But that world was limited to my family and a few boys at school for the most of my life. Then I joined The Daily.
I never planned on writing for sports. I was new to the University of Michigan and was looking for a way to make friends. But I was completely entranced with The Daily’s sports section and the people that make it up. I’ve made my best friends on this section and had the opportunity to cover some amazing sports. In just two years, my sports world is suddenly overflowing with a slew of amazing people. I finally found a place where girls my age cared about sports and were excited to talk about them. This community is something that I’ll cherish forever, and I’m proud to be one of the women that make up The Daily’s sports section.
Hadley Zann, Daily Sports Writer
Sports have always been a huge part of my life. I grew up in a family where sports were prevalent, whether it was going to my brother’s club baseball games, watching Michigan football, or coming downstairs in the morning to SportsCenter on the TV. I followed in my brother’s footsteps as a soccer player, and that dominated my life for the next 16 years.
Coming to Michigan, I knew I wanted to write, and I knew it wanted to be for the sports section. But I missed the mass meeting for sports, and after I eventually shadowed my first game, it took me months to pick up an actual event. I was so intimidated by the knowledge and experience of the people around me, and I was scared I wouldn’t fit in.
However, as I picked up more stories and interacted with the people around me, I began to find my place, largely due to the other women on the section. I covered games with other women, and when Women’s Month rolled around, I felt so empowered by the women around me to use my voice. As a woman in sports, I feel a lot of pressure in such a male-dominated field, but the other women on the section have given me so much confidence to be myself. Being a woman in sports has given me an irreplaceable community.
Getting to see other female sportswriters — like watching Mina Kimes on ESPN every day after school — showed me people like myself in a field of which I dreamed of being a part. I’m extremely grateful I got to see people like her on TV every day to remind myself that I belong, and I hope that girls can read articles from The Daily, see that a woman has written them, and feel the same way I did when I was 8 watching SportsCenter from my couch.
Catie Push for The Daily
Sports have been the one constant in my life that I will forever cherish. It has been, without doubt, the most enthralling experience to watch me and my fellow teammates work hard everyday, make countless McDonald’s runs after practice, and get yelled at for being too loud on a late bus ride home from far away games. It gives me goosebumps just writing this, as a large amount of my most important memories have come from sports. They are flooding my head and making me appreciate every teammate who has ever put their time and effort into me, our games, and all of the fun stuff we would do on the side. To be a woman in sports is often difficult as the comparisons and lack of coverage feel like they outweigh the constant record breaking and inspiration for future generations. This is part of the reason why I chose to join The Daily. I have witnessed firsthand how every woman in The Daily works just as if they were on a sports team: fostering community, continuing to inspire those around them, and having constructive, yet crucial, communication. It just so happens that this occurs in a newsroom instead of a court, field, or course. I am really new to The Daily, but have already found a team that has empowered me to write the way I desire to, making me feel incredibly seen and valued as a woman.
