Celebrating Flo Hyman and National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

(By: Erica Ayala)

Today marks the the 30th Anniversary of National Girls & Women in Sports Day. We were able to catch up with the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) via e-mail as they prepare for today’s events in Washington, D.C.

“National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) began in 1987 as a special day in our nation’s capital to recognize women’s sports. The day united premier organizations and elite female athletes to bring national attention to the promise of girls and women in sports.”

For the inaugural event, WSF honored the late Flora Jean “Flo” Hyman. The Inglewood native died the year before while playing in Japan, from an undetected congenital heart disorder, Marfan Syndrome.

Before her sudden death, Hyman was considered the best volleyball player in the world. She played at the University of Houston, becoming the first woman in the school’s history to receive an athletic scholarship, despite never playing competitive volleyball until the age of 17. Hyman was a three-time All-American for the Cougars before leaving school to pursue a professional volleyball career.

On opting to take a break from school to play volleyball, Hyman said, “You can go to school when you're 60. You're only young once, and you can only do this once." Hyman went on to win several accolades, including a silver medal with Team USA in the 1984 Olympic games held in Los Angeles.

Although her death was tragic, awareness of her condition spread, including a detection of the condition in her brother. Sports Illustrated and Team USA were among those who shared Hyman’s legacy, while also spreading awareness and encouraging early detection.

Looking Forward

Since the first event, “the day has evolved into an event acknowledging the accomplishments of female athletes, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports”, says WSF. As the nation celebrates this milestone celebration, the foundation also acknowledges that we are far from equality.

Erica Ayala: Why is an event like National Girls & Women in Sports Day still important in 2016?

Women’s Sports Foundation: The enactment of Title IX has resulted in the increase of girls and women of all ages playing sports and that’s impactful, however there is still a lot of work to do in ensuring equal athletic opportunities for all girls and women across the country. Girls today receive fewer sports opportunities than boys in both school and after-school programs; more than 1.3 million fewer sports participation opportunities in high school alone. New research from the NWLC shows girls of color finish last in opportunities to play sports in high school. The report found 42 percent of U.S. schools are either 90 percent white or 90 percent minority, and that minority dominated schools tend to have fewer sports opportunities and resources are not allocated in compliance with Title IX.

Why does this matter? This shortfall has long-term consequences for girls’ health, academic success and economic security. Organized sports participation is associated with children’s general health and body esteem, healthy weight, social skills, quality of life and educational achievement. Further, female athletes often derive greater benefits from athletic participation than their male peers.

Although we’ve come a long way, we still have a long way to go in providing equal opportunities for girls and women, which is why NGWSD is still very relevant and important to this day. It continues to be an impactful way of implementing change.

EA: In 2014 and 2015, Women's international matches (Sochi Ice Hockey Gold Medal game & FIFA World Cup) shattered viewership records, what is needed to parlay these statistics into better coverage for women's athletics?

WSF: Although more women than ever before are participating in sports and certain events are garnering higher viewership numbers, women’s sports coverage still accounts for less than 2 percent of network news and ESPN Sportscenter (Women Play Sports, But Not On TV). In order to change this, women’s sports need to be accepted more as a part of mainstream culture. We need sustained commitment from media and sponsors to make an investment in women’s sports. Ultimately, the media and corporate sponsors will see that is a good business decision to invest in women’s sports -- one that generates revenue -- and equal opportunity and pay for female athletes will follow.

EA: How can supporters of women in sports get involved with National Girls & Women in Sports Day and the Women's Sport Foundation?

WSF: There are many ways to get involved and show your support of women’s sports in celebration of NGWSD, and throughout the year:

Attend women's sporting events
Support companies that advocate for women's athletics
Encourage television stations and newspapers to cover women's sports
Sign up to coach a girls' sports team, whether at the recreational or high school level
Encourage young women to participate in sports
Become an advocate: if you are or know a female athlete that is being discriminated against – advocate for her rights.