Women in Professional Sports

In the United States, female athletes play in established professional sports leagues, including the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) softball league, and National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). Women also compete professionally in high-profile individual sports through organizations such as the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). While these organizations represent the highest level of professional competition in their respective sports, women's leagues have struggled to achieve the same levels of exposure, recognition, and financial success as the professional leagues populated by male players. As a result, even the most successful women's professional sports leagues struggle to maintain economic viability.

Proponents of women's professional sports have highlighted...