As Women’s History Month kicks off, Action Network dug into the history of girls’ sports participation across the U.S. There is an undeniable participation boom in girls’ sports and an increase in women’s sports viewership, but this research found key trends in the ways geographic location can impact that reality.
Action Network “analyzed participation levels and opportunity gaps across the country to create a Girls’ Sports Opportunity Index — ranking states based on participation per capita, number of sports offered, gender parity and pro sports presence.”
Based on those criteria, the following top 10 states for girls’ sports was created:
- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Maine
- Connecticut
- Kentucky
- Alaska
- California
- Mississippi
- Massachusetts
- Kansas
According to Action Network, states that are fostering the best environment for girls’ sports aren’t simply the ones with the largest metropolitan areas or budgets, but “ones building the most consistent participation culture statewide where girls have the opportunity to play sports and receive all the benefits that come with them.”
The top ten states were ranked using the NFHS 2023-24 Athletics Participation Survey data, including the number of girls participating in sports, the number of high school varsity girls’ sports offered in the state, participation per capita and gender equity. These factors were all used to create an overall “Girls’ Sports Opportunity Index.”
Four sports came out on top for girls, including volleyball, track and field, soccer and basketball. Volleyball was the most popular sport for girls in 23 states.
States that came in at the bottom of the ranking list tended to struggle with low participation numbers, limited high school varsity team opportunities, and minimal pro women’s sports presence.
Kathy Morris, a researcher with Action Network, said “Given the ongoing national conversation around girls’ athletics participation, Title IX progress, and pro women’s league expansion, this offers a strong data-driven lens on where opportunity is truly strongest — and where gaps remain.”
