The weeklong observance highlights Title IX’s legacy, women’s athletic achievement, and the continued victories protecting women’s sports.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Independent Women announced the kickoff of National Women’s Sports Week today, a nationwide celebration of female athletic achievement and equal opportunity that will run from Sunday, June 21 through Saturday, June 27. This year’s celebration comes at a pivotal moment for women’s sports, as recent years have delivered historic progress for female athletes through state and federal policy victories, growing support for sex-based athletic competition, and renewed efforts to uphold the original promise of Title IX.
National Women’s Sport Week, initiated by Independent Women in 2022 and observed annually during the week of June 23, recognizes female athletes—past, present, and future—for their athletic participation and achievement in sport. The week also honors the coaches, parents, and advocates who help make those opportunities possible.
More than five decades after Title IX transformed educational and athletic opportunities for women and girls, the movement to protect women’s sports has gained unprecedented momentum.
National Women’s Sports Week is a time to:
- CHAMPION female athletes for their teamwork, resilience, and success.
- HONOR the coaches and parents who support female athletes.
- FIGHT to ensure the continuation of single-sex athletic competition.
Payton McNabb, an Independent Women sports ambassador and volleyball player who was severely injured by a male on a women’s team, said: “When I think about Women’s Sports Week, I think about the little girls lacing up their cleats, stepping onto a court, or diving into a pool with big dreams. Those dreams matter. The opportunities created by Title IX changed countless lives, and we have a responsibility to protect them so that every girl can compete fairly, safely, and with confidence.” Read more about Payton here.
Linnea Saltz, Independent Women sports ambassador and former NCAA track and field athlete from Southern Utah University, said, “Women’s sports gave me far more than a chance to compete, they helped shape my character, build my confidence, and open doors that have benefited me throughout my career and life. As we celebrate Women’s Sports Week, I’m grateful for the generations of women who fought for these opportunities and committed to ensuring they remain available for generations to come. Protecting fair competition in women’s sports is essential to preserving the opportunities, achievements, and life changing experiences that sports provide to girls and women everywhere.”
Saltz competed against the first male athlete identifying as female to compete in D1 cross country. Read more about Linnea here.
Madisan DeBos, Independent Women sports ambassador and Southern Utah University D1 cross country and track athlete whose relay team competed against a male athlete, said, “Sports have given me more than I could ever put into words. From the life skills and confidence I’ve gained through running to the lifelong friendships I’ve built along the way, athletics has shaped who I am. I’m grateful to those who came before me and helped create the opportunities I had as an athlete. Now, as a coach, I see more than ever how important it is to help build strong, confident women and provide a safe environment where they can pursue their dreams.” Read more about Madisan here.
Kaillie Humphries, Independent Women sports ambassador and the most decorated Olympic bobsledder in history, said, “The opportunities I have had in bobsledding at the highest levels—including my dream of competing and winning gold in the Olympics—would not be possible without the guarantee of fair competition. As we celebrate Women’s Sports Week, honor the incredible female athletes who have come before us, and recognize more than 50 years of great legacy in women’s sports, we also must continue to defend Title IX and its sex-based protections so that equal opportunity is preserved for the next generation.”
NATIONAL WOMEN’S SPORTS WEEK BACKGROUND:
National Women’s Sports Week was founded and powered by Independent Women in 2022. Observed annually during the week of Title IX’s anniversary, National Women’s Sports Week celebrates female athletes for their achievements and contributions to sport.
Athletes join Independent Women and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in celebration of Title IX and equal opportunity for National Women’s Sports Week in 2025.
National Women’s Sports Week coincides with the 54th anniversary of Title IX (June 23), landmark legislation passed in 1972 that transformed sports and educational opportunity by guaranteeing women and girls equal access.
This Congress, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Representative Claudia Tenney R-NY) reintroduced a resolution recognizing the week of June 23 as “National Women’s Sports Week.”
Independent Women has long led the national effort to preserve the integrity of women’s sports through legal advocacy, public education, original journalism, athlete storytelling, and state and federal policy reform. Through Independent Women’s Law Center, grassroots storytelling efforts, and advocacy campaigns, Independent Women continues to elevate the voices of female athletes and defend equal athletic opportunity for women and girls.
During President Donald J. Trump’s signing of the Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports Executive Order last year, he highlighted Independent Women, saying: “Independent Women, it’s a fantastic group of people that fought very hard on this issue.”
Independent Women at President Trump’s Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports Executive Order signing
Throughout National Women’s Sports Week, Independent Women will highlight stories of female athletic achievement, celebrate the transformative impact of Title IX, and spotlight the policies and leaders working to preserve fairness in women’s sports.
Learn more about National Women’s Sports Week and Independent Women’s efforts to protect women’s sports HERE.
SCOTUS AND INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S “COMPETITION REPORT”:
The Supreme Court of the United States is currently considering two landmark cases, West Virginia v. B.P.J and Little v. Hecox, which will determine whether states may continue to enforce laws that protect female-only athletic categories.
Independent Women’s Law Center has filed amicus briefs in both cases, presenting the Court with scientific evidence, legal precedent, and the real-life stories of women and girls harmed when sex-based protections are ignored. These cases represent a defining moment for the future of female athletics.
“Competition: Title IX, Male Athletes, and the Threat To Women’s Sports,” a report by Independent Women’s Law Center, has informed much of its legal apparatus and policy recommendations on this issue, synthesizing the science and explaining the changing legal landscape and the future of female athletics.
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