In 2023, the world of women’s sports has ridden a wave of momentum that has the potential to reshape the American sports landscape forever. As REAL SPORTS marks its 26th year chronicling women’s sports, we find the movement at a pivotal juncture. Could this be the year that women’s sports cements its place in the annals of American athletics? Let’s dive into the standout moments of 2023.
#10 WNBA: Ending the Expansion Drought
Learn more about the WNBA here.
After 27 seasons, and 15 years of cautious expansion considerations, the Women’s National Basketball Association made a move in 2023 by granting an expansion team to the owners of the National Basketball Association's Golden State Warriors. Led by seasoned sports owner Joe Lacob, this marks the league’s first expansion since 2008, when the Atlanta Dream joined. Lacob had prior women’s sports team ownership experience with the American Basketball League's San Jose Lasers and brings deep commitment to the venture. The still-unnamed new WNBA team will tip off in the 2025 season. This expansion generates anticipation for a bright future for pro hoops in the San Francisco Bay Area.
#9 Mountain Virtuoso: Mikaela Shiffrin’s Record Ascent
Learn more about Mikaela Shiffrin here. Mikaela Shiffrin, the youngest alpine skier to reach 80 World Cup victories, made headlines by surpassing Ingemar Stenmark’s 34-year-old record of 86 World Cup wins. With an incredible tally of 91 World Cup victories and counting, the 28-year-old American could achieve the remarkable feat of 100 wins during the 2023-2024 season.
#8 NWSL: Unleashing the Beast
Learn more about the NWSL here. The National Women’s Soccer League embarked on an ambitious expansion strategy, capitalizing on investor enthusiasm and soaring fan engagement. Notably, the league awarded franchises to former Women's United Soccer Association, Women’s Professional Soccer, and NWSL strongholds, with the Utah Royals and Bay FC set to debut in 2024. The Bay Area team’s acquisition commanded an eye-popping $53 million expansion fee from an ownership group led by Sixth Street in partnership with U.S. Women's National Team legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner. A 15th team, owned predominantly by local women, will enter Boston's sports scene in 2026. And along the way in 2023, NJ/NY Gotham FC went from last to first in winning the 2023 NWSL Championship.
#7 Water Wizardry: Katie Ledecky's Mastery
Learn more about Ledecky here. In July, American swimmer Katie Ledecky, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, secured her 16th individual world title, surpassing the legendary Michael Phelps. Ledecky’s relentless pursuit of excellence culminated in an unprecedented feat — six consecutive world championships in the same competition. However, 17-year-old Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh outpaced Ledecky in the women's 400-meter freestyle at the U.S. Open in November for Ledecky’s first defeat in a race of 400 meters or longer in the United States in over a decade, a testament to her remarkable reign in the pool.
#6 Streaming and Linear: A Game-Changing Fusion
Learn more about women's sports media coverage here. In 2023, streaming further emerged as a game-changer for women’s sports broadcasts, expanding fan engagement and attracting investors. The Women’s Sports Network, led by former ESPN executive Carol Stiff as president, seeks to stand alongside giants like Paramount+, Amazon, YouTube TV and Hulu. Additional platforms, including DirecTV Stream and Sling, also are in the mix.
Streaming behemoth Roku also embraced women’s sports with the launch of the Women’s Sports Zone, a centralized hub, to revolutionize accessibility and discovery for enthusiasts.
Furthermore, the WNBA made its mark by securing a consistent national broadcasting day and time slot through a pivotal deal with ION Television for Friday night broadcasts. Linear games on ESPN, ABC, CBS, and CBS Sports Network further cemented the league's presence, propelling women’s sports into the spotlight like never before.
#5 Follow the Numbers: NWSL’s Media Triumph
#4 Build It, and They Will Come
Learn more about Iowa's basketball team here. Iowa’s women’s basketball team etched history by staging the first outdoor women’s basketball game in a football stadium. Facing off against DePaul, the game set a National Collegiate Athletic Association single-game attendance record, drawing 55,646 fans. Such daring ventures may seem unconventional, but they cast a spotlight on women’s sports, captivating fans and attendees.
#3 Most Decorated: Simone Biles’ Resplendent Return
Learn more about Simone Biles here.
Simone Biles staged a triumphant return to gymnastics in 2023, clinching a record eight national all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in August. At the age of 26, Biles became the oldest woman to secure a title. Biles solidified her comeback on the international stage by winning the individual all-around title at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in October, making her the most decorated gymnast in history, surpassing Belarusan Vitaly Scherbo's record of 33 overall medals from Olympic and World Championship competitions.
In addition, she now has a fifth gymnastics move named after her: the Yurchenko double pike vault is now called the Biles II.
#2 World Record Attendance: Nebraska Volleyball’s Triumph
Learn more about Nebraska's Volleyball achievement here.
Expectations run high for the Nebraska women's volleyball team, a powerhouse with 17 Final Four appearances and five championship victories. In a fitting tribute to Title IX and female athletes, the university shattered world records by hosting a “Volleyball Day in Nebraska” event in October. With the participation of three other teams — the University of Nebraska Kearney, Omaha and Wayne State — the event drew a record-breaking 92,003 fans. Spectators paid $25 per ticket, allowing the university to gross $3 million, with $2 million allocated to expenses, including paying the participating schools. The attendance mark eclipsed the previous NCAA volleyball attendance record of 18,755, as well as the 1999 Women’s World Cup Finals’ 90,185, and the 2022 FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid CF mark of 91,648.
#1 A Long-Awaited Victory: Equal Pay for Team USA
Learn more about Congressional action for equal pay here
Fifty years ago, Billie Jean King and other professional female tennis players embarked on a historic battle for equal pay. King’s remarkable achievement in securing equal pay for the 1973 U.S. Open marked the start of a transformative journey — a journey that remains unfinished.
Remarkably, in 2023, tennis players dominated the list of the top 10 highest-paid female athletes, led by the U.S. Open Tennis Champion Coco Gauff, who earned a staggering $22.7 million. Notably, a substantial portion of their earnings stems from sponsorships, underscoring the significance of these partnerships beyond prize winnings.
Half a century later, on January 5, 2023, President Joe Biden signed the Equal Pay for Team USA Act into law. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), received unanimous support in the U.S. Senate, marking a historic milestone.
However, the journey toward gender equality extends beyond Team USA. As we celebrate this landmark victory, there is still work to be done, especially regarding amenities for non-paid athletes, particularly in contexts like NCAA championships. The road to full equality continues, but the signing of this act represents a significant stride forward.
Sportsperson of the Year: Simone Biles
Learn more about Simone Biles here. In 2023, Simone Biles, our Sportsperson of the Year, showcased resilience and triumph both on and off the gymnastics mat. Her journey began with a courageous decision to withdraw partway through the 2020/2021 Tokyo Olympics all-around gymnastics competition. Biles made a triumphant return later in the Olympics, clinching a bronze medal in the individual apparatus balance beam event.
Post-Olympics, Biles took a well-deserved mental health break, demonstrating a commitment to self-care in the face of extreme performance pressure and the aftermath of sexual abuse allegations involving a former national team doctor. Her openness in addressing mental health issues resonated with fans and supporters worldwide.
Biles’ successful return in 2023 serves as a testament to her extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Her journey continues to inspire, reminding us all that true greatness extends beyond the competition. Simone Biles embodies the spirit of a true champion, on and off the mat.
Publisher's Note:
“The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But it Bends Toward Justice.” Martin Luther King.
In 1977, as a 9-year-old, I confronted a stark reality when I earned my place on an All-Star soccer team, only to be told that I couldn't play simply because I was a girl. I questioned this injustice, asking my parents, “What does the fact that I’m a girl have anything to do with my ability to play soccer?” In response, my family took a bold step and filed a federal class-action lawsuit under the Civil Rights Act, with the invaluable assistance of Equal Rights Advocates. Our goal was clear: To fight for equal opportunity in sports, regardless of gender.
Our case prevailed, setting a groundbreaking precedent that opened doors for girls all across the nation to participate in competitive youth sports teams without facing gender-based discrimination. It was a monumental victory.
Fast forward 20 years, and a girls’ soccer team found itself facing a familiar battle. In the same city and league where my legal journey began, there was a vote to disband the girls’ all-star team. The league, largely operated by parent volunteers, deemed that girls shouldn’t compete at that age. When a concerned parent reached out to me, we dusted off the results of our historic lawsuit and sent them to the league. Within a week, the team was reinstated, underscoring the enduring impact of our fight for gender equality in sports.
At that time, REAL SPORTS was a printed magazine with a national circulation and more than 300,000 engaged readers. We covered seven professional sports leagues, collegiate sports, and the Olympics. As the sporting landscape evolved, with leagues collapsing in the late ’90s and early 2000s, REAL SPORTS transitioned into an annual online edition.
Now, two decades later, we find ourselves in the midst of a true resurgence in women’s sports. Is this vicennial the turning point that will bring about lasting change? Only time will tell. What remains certain is that REAL SPORTS will persist in its mission to chronicle the “Most Important Moments in Sports” each year, serving as the unwavering, independent voice for women in sports. Our commitment to gender equality in athletics endures, as we look to the future with optimism and determination.
You play a role in how this story will be written. One way you can elevate awareness and visibility for women’s sports is to engage, comment, and SHARE this year’s “Most Important Moments in Sports” edition with your social media community.
Together we thrive,
Amy Love
Founder and Publisher, REAL SPORTS magazine
Special acknowledgment to La Tricia Ransom for her editorial engagement. She has been a contributor to REAL SPORTS for 25 years. Looking for 2019-2022 REAL SPORTS Most Important Moments In Sports editions? They were published directly on the REAL SPORTS magazine's website and on social media outlets. Visit www.RealSportsMag.com to see prior issues.
