Serena, World Cup setting stage for big year by women

Athletic achievements by women have burst onto the nation’s consciousness this year like never before, and their prominence shows no sign of abating just as Louisiana high schools prepare to begin another season of sport.

Hyperbole? Maybe. But who could argue with the boost women’s athletics received when the U.S. defeated China for the 1999 Women’s World Cup title?

Fast forward through the past decade-plus, and the country has seen an ever-increasing amount of coverage of all things female, including the USA’s triumph in the 2015 World Cup and the indomitable Serena Williams on the verge of capturing the grand slam in tennis.

“It’s an impressive time to be a female athlete,” the multi-faceted Nancy Lieberman told The Times.

“We’ve had remarkable feats in many decades. The difference right now is the media is just incredible. It’s a different shine on what’s out there. Never in our lives have we had so much media focused on Serena and the World Cup. The fans are coming.”

Sports participation by high school girls continues to spur growth across virtually all sectors, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Girls vying for championships in basketball, soccer, softball and track and field, among others, have increased every year for 25 consecutive years. An all-time record 3,267,664 girls participated in sports in 2013-14 per the NFSH.

“It’s like a field of dreams. If you build it, they will come,” Lieberman said. “If you give women an opportunity in a sport to compete, to coach, to be at an administrative level — there are women who are very qualified to be at the next level.”

In Louisiana, 39,680 female high school athletes compete in one or more sports at their respective school.

“I think the fact that women’s sports are getting more exposure from the media standpoint is certainly helping,” said Northwestern State women’s basketball coach Brooke Stoehr. “Thirty years ago, when Title IX was implemented, the opportunities weren’t what they are now. We have to thank those who came before for creating the opportunities.

“At one point, ABC televised just the last two rounds of the NCAA Women’s Tournament. Now, ESPN shows all the games.”

Lieberman has been on a steady up-tick since becoming a two-time national Player of the Year at Old Dominion. Currently on the staff of the Sacramento Kings as a summer league men’s basketball coach, Lieberman has been a WNBA player, coach and general manager, a broadcaster for ESPN, FOX and ABC, an author, a motivational speaker, an Olympian and a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer.

“I’m a very blessed young woman. Trust me. It’s an honor for me to be here and to be with the Kings,” Lieberman said. “It’s an honor to do interviews. I don’t take it for granted. I understand clearly my role in this whole thing.”

Joining Becky Hammon (San Antonio Spurs) and Lindsey Harding (Toronto Raptors), Lieberman is among a trio of women making inroads into what was until recently an all-male NBA coaching party.

“We’re seeing opportunities, but we have to earn the right. Just because we’re women doesn’t mean everything has to be given to us,” Lieberman said. “We have to compete and stay focused — keep our eye on the prize. But if we do those things we should also have opportunities — if we’re qualified. And we are.”

Where the participation numbers will go is anyone’s guess, but LSUS professor Cay Evans, who began a “Women In Sports Day” at the college several years ago, sees a great deal of positives in the growth.

“A lot of it is due to Title IX that laid the foundation and opened doors,” Evans said. “Now when girls see the USA soccer team win the World Cup, it motivates them because they see the opportunity.”

The LSUS event started small, but has now outgrown the theater at LSUS which packs out at 450. LSUS women’s basketball coach Valerie Huizar was the keynote speaker in February.

“We love to see it because there’s never enough. Girls still don’t have all the opportunities as boys,” Evans said.

But some schools are giving the women’s side more chances at the next level. Bossier Parish Community College plans to add cross country this fall after adding women’s basketball two years ago.

Adding sports at the collegiate level is a rarity in this age of tight budgets, although LSUS is considering adding soccer.

“Adding cross country to our sports offering is providing additional opportunities for sports participation at the collegiate level to our current students and prospective future students,” BPCC athletic director John Rennie said. “The women's cross country program will give us a total of three women's programs with more than 50 female student-athletes participating in sports at BPCC.”

While strides continue to be made, and more opportunities continue to present themselves on a number of fronts, all isn’t perfect. There are still hills to climb, perceptions to overcome and minds to change.

“The challenge right now is: Are we going to be followed because of our sex appeal or are we going to be followed and lauded for our athletic skills?” Lieberman queried.

“That’s really important. Is it just because we have nice bodies or because we can actually get after it on the field of play? There are dads who played sports who want their daughters to have the same opportunities as their little boys. For me, that’s one of the biggest changes.”

Twitter: @JimmyWatson6

Breakdown of Girls sports participation across the U.S.

Track & Field: 478,885

Basketball: 433,344

Volleyball: 429,634

Soccer: 374,564

Softball: 364,297

Cross Country: 218,121

Tennis: 184,080

Swimming/Diving: 165,779

Source: National Federation of State High School Associations