The Power Of Asking: Women In Sports Rewrite The Rules

Forbes

6 days ago

Teresa Resch (President, Tempo Basketball), Jess Smith (President, Golden State Valkyries), Amber ... More Cox (COO & GM, Indiana Fever), Clare Hamill (Interim President, WNBA Portland), and Colie Edison (Chief Growth Officer, WNBA) joined the FQ Lounge during WNBA All-Star.
Sometimes, the only thing standing between you and a breakthrough is a single, daring question: 'Can we talk about this?'
The worst-case scenario? You hear 'no.'
The best-case scenario? You change everything.
Just ask the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. After more than 60 years of being the heartbeat of game day, the cheerleaders finally had enough. In June 2025, shortly after Season 2 of the Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts premiered, they secured a 400% pay increase. Not by chance, but by choice. Their signature 'Thunderstruck' routine had already become a cultural moment. This time, they sparked a movement.
Change didn't happen by natural osmosis. It took intention. It took courage. It took a squad willing to speak up and stand together.
Leaders like Jada Mott and Megan McElaney were among the first to say what many had been thinking. They asked for more, knowing the risks. And as Megan shared in the series: 'Our efforts were heard, and they wanted to give us a raise. And we ended up getting a 400% increase, which is, like, life-changing.'
This wasn't just about money. It was about worth.
About recognition.
About respect.
And this momentum isn't just on the sidelines. It's igniting across every arena, court, and field.
In tennis, Billie Jean King was a courageous first. In 1973, she demanded equal prize money at the U.S. Open and made history. That was more than 50 years ago. While Grand Slams now offer equal pay, inequities still persist across the broader tour in media coverage, sponsorships, and week-to-week compensation.
In the WNBA, the energy is electric. Athletes like Caitlin Clark, A'ja Wilson, and Sabrina Ionescu are packing stadiums, trending online, and selling out merchandise. At the WNBA All-Star Game this weekend, the message couldn't have been clearer: the world isn't just watching. Women are leading.
As the Togethxr campaign declared: Everyone Watches Women's Sports.
What began as a rallying cry has become a movement. Women in sports are no longer waiting for a seat at the table. They're building a new one. They're not trying to meet outdated standards. They are setting the new standard.
This is what modern progress looks like:
Because the right time to raise your voice isn't when someone else gives you permission. The right time is when you decide it is.
So what's the lesson?
If you don't ask, you'll never know.
If you do? You might just spark a thunderclap, serve an ace, or slam dunk a moment of change.