2020 has been a year full of many obstacles, surprises, set backs, and so much more within the sports world. However, it has also been a year of growth and change for many in the sports industry, from growth of a team, changes in management, and growth of a team’s success. Most importantly, there has been a change in women’s roles in the sports industry This year alone, history has been made not once, not twice, but three times with women taking on roles that no other woman has before within the sports industry.
This influential year for women in sports started in January, as Alyssa Nakken was named the first female coach in the MLB, and again in July, made history as the first female coach on field during an MLB game. The San Francisco Giants brought on Sacramento State graduate and softball player Alyssa Nakken after having her serve as an intern for them since 2014. The jersey she wore when she stepped out onto the field is now framed, making sure her name is known in history.
The next advance for women in sports didn’t come in MLB, but the NFL, as on September 27th, for the first time ever, there were female coaches on each sideline, as well as a woman referee officiating the game. These coaches were Jennifer King and Callie Brownson, with Official Sarah Thomas helping to run the game. In a twitter post, Brownson wrote that it was “Hard to find words. 5 year old Callie couldn’t imagine something like this, but now girls and women everywhere can. If she can see it she can be it. Can’t wait to see this next generation of game changers.” This historic game is now commemorated at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Source: Courtesy of the Cleveland Browns
The most notable of women advances, however, came just recently, as on November 13th, Kim Ng was named the General Manager of the Miami Marlins, making her not only the first female general manager in MLB history, but also as the first female general manager of any American professional sports team. Kim started her journey in baseball in 1990, the same year Elaine Weddington Steward became the first female assistant general manager to a major league team. After endless interviews and rejections of general manager positions across the major league baseball industry, Kim Ng settled with an assistant general manager position with the Los Angeles Dodgers until 2011, when she decided to take a different role, in the league offices. After 30 years of fighting endless battles with sexism, racism, and rejection, Kim Ng was finally able to take on the role she has been after since 1998, the role of a General Manager.
These three historic moments in the sports industry are very exciting, as it paves the way for future generations. Sports have always been a very male dominated industry, and with the advancements women have already taken during a year of so much struggle, more room has been created for more women to make their own splashes.
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