Leaders uplift youth athletes at LA Women’s History Month event

Women professional athletes, industry trailblazers, and local student athletes gathered together Tuesday, March 11, for a Women’s History Month celebration in Los Angeles. The “Play Because It Matters: Women Leading the Way” event, hosted at the LA84 Foundation’s West Adams campus, aimed to inspire and empower the next generation of women in sports.

The LA84 Foundation, born out of the 1984 Olympic Games, advocates for youth access to sports.

The LA84 Foundation hosted a Women’s History Month event celebrating women’s achievements in the sports world on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Courtesy of the LA84 Foundation)

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The LA84 Foundation hosted a Women’s History Month event celebrating women’s achievements in the sports world on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Courtesy of the LA84 Foundation)

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A panel of professional athletes and community leaders discussed the transforming role of sports, especially in the lives of young women, LA84 officials said. There were over 70 attendees, including students from the Girls Academic Leadership Academy in L.A.

The event also highlighted the work of the foundation’s Play Equity Fund, which advocates for gender equity and social change on and off the field.

A 2024 California Play Equity report found that children face significant barriers to youth participation in sports, based on factors including zip code, affordability, and lack of safe places to play. Though young people are active, the report said, many — especially from underserved communities — fail to meet the CDC’s recommended guidelines for physical activity.

This celebration “uplifts female leaders in sports and the sports industry, proving that strength, leadership, and perseverance can break barriers. As Billie Jean King said, ‘Champions keep playing until they get it right,’” said Renata Simril, the President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “By expanding access to the power of sports, (we) contribute to young women’s confidence, resilience, and academic success.”

“Sports has helped me have the confidence to speak up and take a shot when I was the only woman in the room,” Simril said on Tuesday. That is the confidence you gain in the huddle – with other women lifting you up, or male coaches saying you belong and you deserve the opportunity.”