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#WomensSportsWeekends

Writer's picture: Dan WickensDan Wickens

I'm a financial wellness author who believes that how you spend your time and money matters. I budget time and funds to support women's sports because it adds value to my life. On top of that, I know that investing in opportunities for women and girls brings returns that improve the world. In this blog post I'll discuss why I love women's sports, why your support matters, and some affordable ways you can get involved.

Fandom is like a dance party; it takes a few people to get it going, and it's most fun when everyone joins in. Women's sports have a lot of momentum right now, and I hope you join me in celebrating #WomensSportsWeekends to keep the party going.




Join me in launching #WomensSportsWeekends. My hope is that by letting our fandom fly, we can spread the joy and inspiration that comes from watching, attending, and supporting women's athletics.


Here are several easy ways you can get involved. Try out these ideas and share your experience with friends and family! If posting on social media is your jam, share your pics and use #WomensSportsWeekends. If you don't have social media, try it out anyway!

  • Option 1: See it!

  • Option 2: Do it!

  • Option 3: Wear it!

  • Option 4: Watch it!


Option 1: See it!

Go to a women's sports event and make a memory! Depending on the game/event, you can get in the door for about the cost of a movie theater ticket.


In the U.S. we have top tier professional leagues that give us access to some of the best athletes on the planet. Don't have a pro team nearby? Go support college women's athletics! Whether it's your alma mater or a campus close to home, there are great options to choose from year-round. Take the whole family!


There are two things that make any event fun: the performers, and the audience. Doesn't matter if it's a concert, a show, or a sporting event. My point is, women athletes are already out there performing incredible feats, and the increasing interest from fans is helping make the experiences unforgettable.

My wife and I arriving to a Seattle Reign FC game early to watch warmups.


Sue Bird's final regular season home game for the Seattle Storm. We lost, so we haven't worn these honorary GOAT shirts since.

Option 2: Do it!

Sports aren't just for pros. There are great opportunities out there to have fun, make friends, and celebrate what your body can do. Recreational team sports, endurance events, Crossfit, powerlifting, skiing, hiking - who cares what you do, or if you're any good at it? Just get out there and have fun!


Recreational sports provide opportunities for women and girls to achieve their goals and choose to be strong. I personally love the phenomenal co-ed running events hosted by the Tacoma City Marathon Association. From 1km kids races to an epic ultramarathon, these events are great for locals and destination runners alike. I can confirm that lots of women run these races, because I get passed by them pretty regularly.


For a fun, free option to get involved, consider volunteering for a race, event, or rec league that provides opportunities for girls and women to play and compete. You may even be able to find a Run Like a Girl race, such as this one in Bellingham (see link).

Tell me in the comments which sports you already participate in or would like to try!


Me, my wife, and our baby (90% downloaded) volunteering at Race For A Soldier in 2023.


Option 3: Wear it!

Rock your favorite women's sports gear on weekends, and share the idea with friends, family, and coworkers who might be interested (and use hashtag #WomensSportsWeekends on social media if you have it). If your company allows it, consider wearing some of your favorite gear on Fan Fridays. I'm a huge Seattle Seahawks fan, and love seeing coworkers showing team pride (even the ones who can't name any players). Displaying the gear is a natural conversation starter, and helps build awareness and community around the teams and athletes. We can do the same for our women's teams as well. I typically wear a Reign polo on Wednesdays and a Seahawks polo on Fridays, and if either team plays on a weeknight I wear the polo on gameday instead.


Don't have any women's sports merch yet? Go get some! T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, polos - there's lots of great stuff out there. And it doesn't have to be expensive - you can slap a $6 team decal on your work water bottle or wear an $8 team pin on your shirt. Gym clothes, casual clothes, a hat or beanie, a bandana for your dog, a onesie for your littlest fans... it all looks great! The more people see the gear, the more awareness exists, and the more fans enlist. I've listed some popular places to get gear at the end of this post.


Our son proving that you don't have to be a sports expert to look cool in team threads.


Option 4: Watch it!

If you're not feeling ready for the other options, find something to watch on a TV or streaming service you already have. This is a way to get involved without any additional cost. Don't forget to use the hashtag if you're on social media, even if it's not actually the weekend yet. Example: "This State vs Tech game is so intense that the dog is trying to comfort me. #WomensSportsWeekends".


On the day of editing this post I caught the end of the Big Ten Women's Championship and all of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. The electricity from the fans and players could have powered the stadiums!

At the time of writing (March 2024), TV viewers are right in the middle of an epic run of women's sports action. From the 2023 Women's World Cup to 2024 March Madness to the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the level of competition has never been higher in the U.S. or across the world. We even have sports bars dedicated to women's sports, like the Rough and Tumble Pub in Seattle. We're spoiled with access and interest compared to even four years ago, and we have to keep our foot on the gas to ensure it's a new norm rather than just a trend. The next section will summarize why.


Your interest makes a difference

Look - I don't know exactly how the profits from tickets, merchandise, and TV deals reach players. But even if the profits only go back to the league, team owners, and merch suppliers, your interest still sends a clear message - women's sports are worth investing in. The more money that goes to the investors, the better the player salaries and endorsements will be. In the end, it's regular citizens who pay athletes and movie stars.


In the end, it's regular citizens who pay athletes and movie stars.

What do TV networks, rich team owners, and collegiate conference leaders want most? To make money. If we continue making women's sports more lucrative, there's more investment for girls at all levels, more funding and opportunities for players, enhanced game environments, and improved access for those who already love (or will learn to love) women's sports.


You're a dude... why do you care so much?

My dad coached high school girl's sports when I was little, so athletes were some of my favorite female role models as a kid. Then I loved watching my friends play sports in middle school and high school, and eventually found a love of watching women's college and professional sports. It was the 2008 Olympics and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup that really sent my appreciation soaring. The love of women's soccer that my wife and I share eventually evolved into becoming season ticket members for Seattle Reign FC back in 2022 (OL Reign at the time), and we expect to keep as our seats as far into the future as we can see (and adding to them as our family grows). Each year we specifically build the cost of tickets into our PFE budget (passion, fulfillment, empowerment) and I've never regretted it. Our son and any future kiddo(s) will grow up knowing that women are capable of anything.


Yes, I believe that women's athletics have been historically underfunded, underpaid, and underappreciated. But female athletes don't need charity; they need opportunity. When we invest in women and girls - whether in sports or education or anything else - the world is rewarded with staggering returns. It's a beautiful life cycle. Give a girl an opportunity to play, and she develops her confidence, toughness, teamwork, and other favorable traits. Maybe that translates into a career in business or science, or if she's an elite athlete, maybe professional sports. When the next little girl (or grown man like me) sees this person thrive, they believe they can be great too, and that greatness continues to pollenate and bloom.

Female athletes don't need charity; they need opportunity.

To summarize, I support women's sports - financially and otherwise - because of the joy, inspiration, and value it adds to my life. To me, that makes it worth time and money, both of which I value immensely.


It took me several years to realize it, but it eventually dawned on me that I wasn't just watching my favorite women's teams or female athletes anymore - these were some of my favorite teams and athletes, with no qualifiers (and they had been the whole time). I hope other guys continue to realize that not only is it ok to enjoy women's sports, it's incredibly fun and rewarding. The effort, passion, and courage I see are easy to soak up and wring out into my own life. Plus, it's just a blast to be part of something and be a fan.


Wrapping up

Anyone familiar with my financial wellness content knows that suggesting retail spending, social media, and screen time isn't really on brand for me... but this arena is one of the few exceptions I make. We can complain all we want about women's athletics being underfunded and underappreciated, but we have to remember that most funding (and appreciation) comes directly from fans.


Do you want equality in sports? Budget for it, and put your money where your mouth is! Better yet, go celebrate what your own body can do!

Tight budget? Save $5 a month toward the gear, game, or race that you're interested in. Or, my personal favorite - put gear and/or tickets on your holiday gift list!


Financial wellness

If you're looking for honest and entertaining financial wellness education, please subscribe to the blog, follow my social media, and check out my book (link below).





Great women's sports gear stores

Here are a few sites for major U.S. team sports as well as Team USA gear to rep the American Olympic and Paralympic athletes. And don't forget to look for women's sports gear to support your favorite school! What others did I miss?


Thank you!




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