All of the hard work and planning that went into celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day paid off as the RMA was filled with students and faculty members on Wednesday. Co-owner of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky and LFHS Alum Nadia Rawlinson shared her experiences with students at a “fireside chat,” followed by an “all female athletes” clap-out.
ScoutNation and SaLT spent weeks planning and preparing for the two-day event.
“Nadia Rawlinson is a true inspiration and role model who set the bar very high,” ScoutNation sponsor Julie Crouch said. “Most importantly, our goal was for the strong group of young women that surrounded her on stage, or were in the audience, or featured in the video, or participated in the clap out, to feel seen, celebrated and empowered.”
A panel of female sports team captains met with Rawlinson for lunch prior to the talk in hopes of building a more personal connection, and discussing the topics that the group felt were most important. This new relationship led to a more seamless conversation in front of a crowd.
Rawlinson spoke about her path to the Sky, her responsibilities as a co-owner, and her outlook for the future.
Her goal is to create the world she thinks should exist. She said she’s continuing to “figure out how she can make her imprint on the world,” one day at a time.
“Whether you win or lose, it’s about the ability to pick yourself back up and move on,” Rawlinson said. “I wasn’t someone who played sports, but I understood the value of it in society, and I knew I wanted to contribute to that.”
Her contributions to athletics are immense, but she also spoke on how those athletic abilities eventually translate into a girl’s professional life– after all, 90% of women in leadership positions played a team sport at some point in their lives.
This connection between sports and leadership is evident in Rawlinson’s own journey. A notable moment in Rawlinson’s career was when the Sky played an away game against the Indiana Fever. The amount of fans who showed up to the game boosted the energy. Rawlinson lit up and got chills just talking about the memory.
“100% show up to all sporting events. It doesn’t matter the sport. Go. Show up,” she said.
Showing up, for any sporting team, makes a big impact on the athlete; girls and boys alike. Live events are some of the only things left where you can’t predict the outcome, which is what makes the games so intriguing.
The Girls Varsity Basketball Game vs. Stevenson Tuesday had a great turnout. Fliers were passed out throughout the school day to encourage attendance, and free hot dogs, sponsored by Left Bank, and raffle tickets were advertised to students to promote the event.
The event featured raffle tickets sold at the door, free hot dogs for all attendees, and a fun half time shoot out that involved the crowd as well as the girls middle school basketball team. Senior SaLT member Emily Witte, who helped organize the event, said the future Scouts’ participation was a “highlight.”
“It was really special for them to be able to shoot at half time with a big audience. They’ve definitely never played in front of that many people,” Witte said.
Head Coach Stacey Leach recognized and appreciated the efforts made by the community to support the team.
“There was a strong sense of community spirit that made the experience even more special. It was incredible to have that extra support, and it gave our team an added boost of energy,” she said.
The extra support, especially from other women, didn’t go unnoticed. A high female turnout at the game promoted the “women supporting women” idea that many female sports teams strive to achieve.
Leach said the power that comes from women supporting women is “essential.”
Whether it’s on the court or in day to day life, the discipline and character development that comes with playing sports is evident. It’s what makes highlighting women in sports so special.
“When women continue to pursue their passions, they not only inspire themselves but also pave the way for future generations of female athletes,” Leach said. “The internal motivation to succeed and improve is what truly drives progress, both in sports and in life.”
