Broadening Participation in Women’s Sports

Women’s sports have reached unprecedented heights in popularity. Franchise valuations in the WNBA are climbing. Recent events like March Madness and the Winter Olympics have set new viewership records for women’s competitions. The visibility of stars including Simone Biles, Serena Williams, and Caitlin Clark has inspired increased participation among young girls.

However, the challenge lies in maintaining this enthusiasm beyond adolescence. When school sports end, women often lose the routine of regular athletic involvement. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show nearly half of American women do not engage in sufficient physical activity during leisure time. Currently, men are almost twice as likely as women to have played a sport in the past year.

Women engaging in sports stand to gain significantly. Just a few hours of activity weekly boosts physical and mental health and provides social enjoyment. Sports are effective for maintaining health. A long-term study by U.S. and Denmark researchers revealed that playing social sports like tennis, badminton, and soccer can extend life expectancy by almost seven years compared to sedentary lifestyles.

Even minimal participation yields benefits. Three hours per week of racquet sports can reduce cardiovascular mortality by 56% and all-cause mortality by 47%. Sports uniquely combine exercise with social interaction, which independently enhance mental health. Participants in group sports often report reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. For women, who face depression diagnoses nearly twice as often as men, these benefits are particularly valuable.

A longitudinal study from 2021 found sports or exercise group membership linked to fewer depression symptoms four years later. Additionally, sports cultivate confidence. Notably, 94% of women leaders in C-suite positions played college sports. Sports promote discipline, resilience, teamwork, and strategic thinking.

Many women stop playing sports not out of lack of desire but due to limited opportunities after organized athletics. Recreational leagues can feel daunting, often dominated by men and requiring advanced skills. Some sports, like tennis, lower these barriers effectively. Women represent about 43% of annual tennis participants, one of the highest rates among popular sports.

Tennis remains widely accessible with nearly 270,000 courts across the U.S., many of which are public. Starting costs are relatively low. The sport is adaptable to different fitness levels, suitable for long-term play. It fosters community ties throughout life stages, serving as a social anchor. Tennis boasts consistent player retention, with six years of participation growth and over 20 million returning players in 2025.

The same long-term study highlighted tennis as increasing life expectancy by 9.7 years, nearly twice the benefit observed in other exercises. As 80% of adult women with osteoporosis tend to benefit from tennis’s weight-bearing play, the sport promotes bone density. Tennis provides a comprehensive workout, burning 500 to 800 calories per hour, akin to an hour on a treadmill, enhancing muscle composition, grip strength, and coordination.

Women’s sports should thrive in everyday life as much as in stadiums and on screens. As excitement for sports events grows, so should casual participation. Tennis, while not the sole option, offers an accessible, social, physically sustainable, and enjoyable sport that suits many adult women’s needs.

Lindsay Davenport is a former world No. 1 on the WTA Tour, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, a three-time major doubles champion, and the 1996 women’s singles Olympic gold medalist. Davenport, an International Tennis Hall of Famer, is the captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team and serves as a commentator and analyst for the Tennis Channel.

Submit a letter, no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].