The issue of women’s sports

Attending a college-level basketball game and seeing seas of empty seats and silent crowds is not the usual experience one would recount. Yet this is typical of attending a Miami University women’s sports game.

Women’s sports have been consistently undermined and underrepresented. This stems from systemic misogyny in the field — there’s a common belief that men are “naturally superior” in physicality, making sports a “male culture practice,” according to a thesis from Kennesaw State University.

This thought has affected women’s sports permanently. There is lower attendance at games, less funding and less media coverage. According to research by AP News, about 30% of U.S. adults follow women’s professional or college sports in any capacity. Comparatively, 45% of U.S. adults follow men’s professional sports, according to another AP News research study.

In the 2025-26 season, both Miami’s basketball teams had successful runs. The men’s team went undefeated in the regular season and made it to the first round of March Madness. Every game, Millett Hall was filled to the brim, and there were record-breaking attendances, according to reporting by The Miami Student.

The women’s team also had a historic season. They were champions of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) for the first time in 18 years, securing them a spot in March Madness. However, the attendance for their matches was noticeably different. The women’s team also broke attendance records this season. However, their record-breaking number reached 5,034 fans while the men’s doubled that and had crowds of over 10,000 people.

The difference was shocking. With both teams setting records, the attention should have been equal. It was anything but. People circulated infographics about the men’s team around Instagram almost daily; yet there was hardly a word heard about the women’s.

Brooke Blumenfeld, a senior liberal studies major who plays as a forward on the Miami women’s team, said she noticed a huge difference in attendance between the two teams this past season.

“Even when we had bigger and more important games, it was still empty and you could hear the ball bounce,” Blumenfeld said. “But when you go to the men’s games, it’s packed and you can’t hear anything.”

She also said lower attendance negatively affects player performance.

“It affects the energy when you’re playing and it’s really awkward, versus you have a lot of people screaming, yelling, cheering for you,” Blumenfeld said. “You look forward to playing in front of more people.”

Showing up means something to the players. It affects the game and boosts morale and, therefore, performance. This goes beyond the collegiate level.

Earlier this year, the Olympic Games were held in Italy. Both the men’s and women’s U.S. hockey teams competed, and both emerged victorious with a gold medal.

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After the victories, President Donald Trump called the men’s team as they sat in the locker room to congratulate them and invite them to the White House. In the call, he reluctantly mentioned that they would “have” to invite the women’s team as well, portraying it as an unwanted obligation.

The women’s team declined his invitation to the White House. Their victory, which was equal to the men’s, had been demeaned and ridiculed in front of a national audience.

There is no excuse for the lack of attention female athletes receive compared to male athletes. When watching sports, viewers focus on the competition; they want to see their team win. Winning is not a gender-exclusive feat.

Women’s sports continue to be undermined, especially in the U.S. At some point, this has to change. Female athletes deserve the same coverage and support, especially when successful in their efforts. We owe an apology to all women disrespected within their sports, and must continue to push for equality and support.

norrisl3@miamioh.edu

Layla Norris is a first-year student double majoring in political science and professional writing, with a minor in history. Alongside writing for The Miami Student, she is involved with Kappa Alpha Pi and RedHawk Radio.