National Girls and Women in Sports Day

By: Ella Kulas

On February 7th, 2026, the University of Saint Joseph hosted an event for National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which was supported by the Women’s Sports Foundation. Founded by the legendary tennis star, Billie Jean King, the foundation has invested over $100 million in promoting leadership and participation in women’s sports. Their support for National Girls and Women in Sports Day at USJ allowed girls aged 7-12 to participate in the event for free, and supported a day filled with activities and exposure to women’s sports. 

All women’s sports teams at USJ participated in the event, with participants spending 15 minutes with each sport before switching to a new one. These included basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swim and dive, tennis, and volleyball. Lasting from 10:15-12:30, each sports team planned events and showcased their sport to the participants. Afterwards, the girls were provided with pizza and Gatorade, and invited to watch the Women’s Basketball team take on Colby Sawyer College at 1:00 p.m. Several of the girls stood on the court and gave high fives as the starters for USJ were announced. 

National Girls and Women in Sports Day has become a tradition at the University of Saint Joseph and provides an open environment for young girls to become more involved in sports. It also gives them the opportunity to experience a multitude of different sports and perhaps discover a new interest. The athletics department took steps to ensure that the environment was welcoming and fun. This allowed  young girls to experience women’s sports, and the community and passion that it brings with it.