Going into the game against B-CC, the girls’ basketball team held a 5-0 record that included a win against the reigning state champs, Clarksburg. At the same time, the boys’ basketball team struggled to start the season, not winning a game until after winter break.
The stands were filled from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a completely sold-out gym for the boys’ basketball game. As soon as the final buzzer sounded, fans dispersed throughout the gym, rushing towards the small gym door. When the girls’ basketball game began 20 minutes later, the stands were more than half empty.
Title IX was enacted in 1972 to eliminate discrimination in sports and education. Despite this federal action, however, gender double standards remain a persistent issue in high schools around the country.
“Equity is a critical core value of the MCPS interscholastic athletics program. Each school must ensure that every aspect of the athletics program is equitable for all genders, races, cultures, teams, and participants,” MCPS Compliance/Title IX coordinator Anne Rossiter said. “Equity includes opportunities, exposure in school media and publications, distribution of resources and athletic schedules.”
Title IX enforcement is critical for women’s sports, and Rossiter works closely with MCPS athletic directors to ensure equity across all sports programs. Title IX protects female athletes from discrimination at school, ensuring access to academic opportunities, scholarships at the collegiate level, and availability of facilities.
As fans faded out of the gym before the girls’ basketball game, the noise and atmosphere of the student section fell behind, and with that, the team’s confidence.
At WJ, two barriers remains prominent for female sports teams: attendance and support. In the fall, every Friday night, students pack the stands to watch the football team under the lights. The football team went a mediocre 5-6, while in their inaugural season, the girls’ flag football team finished the season 6-3. Both teams made it to the second round of the playoffs, ultimately falling short of their goals to win a state championship.
“Flag beat a lot of expectations this season,” sophomore Gabby Buggs said. “Especially it being our first season, we were told that the sport wouldn’t be entertaining and that girls weren’t good at football.”
Throughout their careers, many female athletes beat expectations, pushing the boundaries of their sport. Overall, this elevates their athletic performance to new heights.
Home-field advantage is more than just a familiar setting; it’s a game-changing factor that can tilt the odds in a team’s favor. Athletes perform better when the bleachers are filled with family, friends, and fans. The energy of the home crowd significantly impacts the game’s outcome. We see this all the time in professional sports; in football, it’s called the 12th man, the extra advantage from the fans in the stands.
The feeling of emptiness at games unsettles every female athletics program at WJ. Yet, the loud support of family shines through.
Sports media has hit a growth spurt, with many new accounts rising to your feed. One account that WJ students are familiar with is @mightymadcows. This account is the official Instagram of the WJ student section, used to post about upcoming sports events to encourage WJ students to attend.
“It’s unfair, we deserve recognition too. We have been playing very well. They should at least post for both of the basketball teams,” sophomore girls’ basketball player Mira Mann said.
Last year, not one post was dedicated to a girls’ team before a big game. This trend seems to be continuing, as a girl’s game has yet to be mentioned on the account this year. What’s even more peculiar is the lack of posts despite the success of girls’ sports teams at WJ.
So Youssef asked herself this question: Why would a team with an 0-5 record get a sold-out gym, while a team that’s 5-0 only gets half of their family to fill a fourth of the bleachers?
The imbalance in support for boys’ and girls’ sports is not just an issue at WJ. It reflects a broader issue within our society that has persisted for decades. Regardless of Title IX, female athletes continue to face disparities in recognition, media coverage and overall investment.
While women’s sports has recently entered the spotlight with newly founded professional leagues and the increase of viewers nationwide during last year’s NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament, the rise in popularity has yet to translate to high school athletics.
“Most of the time, it’s very rare that we see the student section even half-filled,” junior girls’ basketball player Norah Youssef said. “I think every female athlete at school would love to see their student sections filled like the male sports because of how exciting it is.”
