Five Defining Moments That Revolutionized Women's Sports

"You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt. But still, like dust, I'll rise," a powerful verse from Maya Angelou, perfectly captures the essence of women’s history—an experience many women can relate to at some point in their lives. Yet, despite all the challenges, we’ve witnessed moments that have revolutionized women’s sports. (More Sports News)

Today is Women's Day, March 8, 2025—18,797 days since the iconic "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match in 1973, an exhibition where Billie Jean King defeated former men's champion Bobby Riggs. Riggs, who believed that even at 55, he could defeat any of the top female players, was proved wrong in that historic match.

It also marks 125 years since women first participated in the Olympic Games (1900) and 52 years since the India Women’s Cricket Team was established.

These milestones are just a glimpse of the countless days that have led to women now standing shoulder to shoulder with men, and in some cases, even surpassing them—overcoming the extra layer of struggle that comes with being a woman.

When we talk about women in sports, it’s still a topic that doesn’t carry the weight it should in many parts of the world--and sadly, that "many" is far too large.

But as Angelou says, STILL WE RISE, women across the globe continue to rise, fight, and redefine their stories--breaking through the barriers of female foeticide, witch hunts, domestic abuse, exclusion from decision-making, religious malpractices.

And, proving they can play sports just like men carving out legendary paths in with icons like Serena Williams, Billie Jean King, Simone Biles, PT Usha, Mary Kom, Mithali Raj and many more.

Let’s take a look at five moments that revolutionized women’s sports.

1. Afghan Women’s Cricket Team Plays First Match Since Fleeing Taliban Rule

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban insurgents seized power in Kabul, bringing the country back under their rule. That was the last day women in Afghanistan breathed freedom. Everything changed. Girls above the 6th grade were banned from attending school, women couldn’t travel alone without a male relative, universities were off-limits, and almost all private sectors became male-dominated.

Women lost their basic human rights, and so did the Afghanistan Women's Cricket Team. Established in 2010 by the nation's cricket board, the team of around 22 girls had been practicing, growing, learning, and preparing to play internationally. But their fate was jeopardized when the Taliban imposed a ban on women’s sports.

The players fled to different parts of the world, keeping hope alive. And after 3 years, in exile, they finally formed the Afghan Women's XI and played their first match in January 2025 at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, competing against the Cricket Without Borders XI. The match featured 21 female players who were once contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) before the Taliban re-took control in 2021. Isn’t this a beacon of hope?

2. WTA Announces Maternity Leave Policy For 2025

Just a day ago, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has introduced a groundbreaking initiative. They will now offer the players up to 12 months of paid maternity leave for the first time as part of a family benefits program funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

This "first-of-its-kind" program also includes grants for fertility treatments, marking a historic shift in supporting self-employed female athletes. With more than 320 players eligible, this initiative is seen as a crucial step toward allowing women in sports to balance their careers and family aspirations.

"It can be challenging to balance the physical and emotional demands of a professional tennis career with the complexities of motherhood and family life," said the WTA chief executive Portia Archer.

3. Paris 2024 Olympics: A Landmark Achievement In Gender Equality

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will go down in history as the first to feature equal participation for male and female athletes across all sports. Of the 32 sports, 28 were fully gender-balanced, with an equal number of male and female athletes competing. In total, around 5,503 women and 5,712 men participated, as the International Olympic Committee ensured equal quotas for both genders.

4. Revolutionizing Sporting Ecosystem - Rise Of Women’s Leagues In 21st Century

After achieving national recognition, the missing piece for women's sports was the establishment of national leagues--and the 21st century delivered! The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), founded in 1996, led the charge, but it’s not the only one. The FA Women’s Super League (WSL) in the UK, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US, the Indian Women's Premier League (IWPL) and the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia have also made huge strides.

These leagues aren’t just offering women the chance to play--they’re raking in big money, sponsorships, and TV deals. In short, they’re showing that women can draw crowds and attract sponsors just like the guys!

5. Equal Pay In Women’s Sports - A Distant Yet Believable Dream

While we’re not at total pay equality yet, the gap is definitely shrinking over time. One of the biggest wins came in 2022 when the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) scored a huge victory with a landmark equal pay agreement with U.S. Soccer.

Let’s not forget that all four major tennis tournaments now dish out equal prize money. Countries like Australia, Norway, New Zealand, and Brazil have also joined the equal pay club in football. And guess what? India’s not sitting out either! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made sure that both the men's and women’s cricket teams get equal match fees. Because, we rise.