Recapping the top moments in women’s sports from November in past years.
From soccer pitches, to basketball courts, to even paralympic games, November is a huge month for women’s sports historically. Over the last couple of years there have been ground-breaking events, championship wins and even record breaking fan engagements.
On Nov. 21, 2012 the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) was founded in the United States, creating a top-tier women’s professional soccer league. This was a structural milestone in women’s professional soccer, giving a stable league platform at the national level.
In November 2023, women’s athletics went big on and off the playing field. One of the peak moments was when NCAA Division I women’s basketball ranked higher than men’s basketball in 26 states in America. This followed a bigger cultural boom, audiences were viewing, talking and cheering on women’s sports more than ever before.
The NWSL also saw a record crowd watch its season-ending game as two legends, Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger, played in their final professional match in November 2023. Their final game wasn’t merely the end of two great careers; it was also an indication of how the emotional investment of the fan base in women’s sports and its best athletes has grown.
November 2023 also witnessed a record achievement of Paralympic sports. Canada’s women’s national goalball team won its first Parapan American Games gold medal, ever in Santiago, Chile. With the nail-biting 4–3 victory against the United States, not only did Canada claim gold, but also secured a spot at next year’s 2024 Paris Paralympics. Star of Team Canada, Emma Reinke won the winning hat trick against two-time defending champions Brazil during the semifinals. It wasn’t a win, it was a breakthrough for Para sport and women’s Para sport awareness and accessibility, again reaffirming that inclusivity is key to the international conversation about athletic accomplishment.
Way back in November of 2021, the Washington Spirit made another historical milestone when they captured their first NWSL Championship. The 2–1 triumph over the formerly Chicago Red Stars was the culmination of a season rife with off-field drama and coaching transitions. But the Spirit’s resilience and togetherness prevailed. New star rookie Trinity Rodman was a part of that championship charge, an icon of women’s soccer, who would help the sport carry on into the future.
Every single one of them is a testament to incredible progress. They are writing a story of a world where women’s sports are thriving, amassing devoted followings and inspiring young ones in their wake. From legendary wins to record-breaking engagement, November has turned into a month where walls are broken down and heroes are made. With the passing of years, these November milestones will be proof of how far women’s sports have come and how much farther they are going to rise.