When I say the date February 1st what comes to mind? To all the sports lovers, it obviously would be it’s the day of Tom Brady’s (first and second) retirement. But there’s another holiday that some might not be as familiar with. And that is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. (N.G.W.S.D)
February 1, 2023, was the 37th annual national Girls & Women in Sports Day. This day is to raise awareness of and celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports. And while there were some posts about the day, it happened to get a little overshadowed by Brady’s second announcement.
A year earlier, Tom Brady announced his retirement at the age of 44 from the NFL after 22 seasons. After four years at the University of Michigan, he was drafted at no. 199 of the 2000 NFL draft. Despite being the 7thquarterback taken in the draft, Brady proved himself on the field and eventually became the household name that we all know.
His first initial announcement sent waves of shock through social media. Tons of positive reception from current and former teammates, athletes of all sports, and of course the fans thanking him for his amazing career. Only 40 days later on March 13, Brady ends his retirement and decides to come back for one more season to play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Flash forward, here we are again a year later. And while Brady’s announcement was all the media could talk about, it’s important to highlight this day for all the women in sports.
N.G.W.S.D is about breaking the gender stereotypes build around sports. The day is celebrating that women belong in all aspects of sports. This day is about empowering girls and women on and off the field. Whether you’re an athlete or working behind the scenes, every player regardless of position is acknowledged in a field that is male dominated. While some might be aware of what day it is, it wasn’t on the radar because of a man’s announcement.
Unless you play or keep up with women’s sports, you wouldn’t know why the 1st has more of an importance than someone retiring. Some might see this and think that I’m complaining about it not receiving more attention than one of the most accomplished players of all time. And while that is a stance on this statement, that isn’t the point of my post.
Women and girls in sports also deserve attention and recognition. When I was scrolling through my media that day, I could say for certain that I saw more posts of Tom Brady than female athletes. As a football fan myself, I had a reaction to his news. But this day was created to highlight female athletes who are hoping to have their own Brady careers and I hope that we can continue on that narrative every Feb. 1st.
