Wednesday, February 1, 2017 marked the 31st annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), a national observance celebrating the extraordinary achievements of girls and women in sports. In celebration, D.C. United hosted a panel discussion that featured senior women in the sports industry who talked about their personal experiences and career journeys.
Panel speakers included: Denise Reddy, Assistant Coach for the Washington Spirit; Joanna Lohman, Washington Spirit Midfielder; Deborah Larkin, Chief of Special Projects for the Women’s Sports Foundation; Maureen Galkin, Partnership Marketing for D.C. United; and Erin Hawksworth, Sports Anchor for ABC7 WJLA.
Over 50 local female student athletes from schools across the metropolitan region gathered at RFK stadium to hear inspirational messages from each speaker during the 60-minute panel discussion and Q&A session. A small meet-and-greet reception followed.
NGWSD began in 1987 as a special day in our nation’s capital to recognize women’s sports. Premiere organizations and elite female athletes united to bring national attention to the promise of girls and women in sports. In 1987, NGWSD also served as a remembrance of Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman, who was honored for her athletic achievement and dedication to promoting equality for women in sports. Hyman died of Marfan’s Syndrome in 1986 while playing in a tournament in Japan.
Since then, NGWSD has evolved into an event that acknowledges the accomplishments of female athletes, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports.
For more information on D.C. United’s community programs and events, visit dcunited.com/community, or follow on Twitter at @DCU_CR.
All photos credit Steve Christensen.
