Currently, more than a thousand girls in the U.S. play high school baseball, according to Justine Siegal, the founder of Baseball For All. Thanks though to Mo’ne Davis and her showing at the Little League World Series, that number is expected to climb.
Davis, who is only 13 years old, has become a media sensation after back-to-back performances in which she has dominated the competition. Just last week she became the first girl to pick up a win in the Little League World Series. What makes this story so compelling isn’t just that a girl is proving she can compete with the boys – it’s that she’s demonstrating self-confidence far beyond her years and thriving in a space that has been historically prohibitive to young female players.
Watching her play has been a lot of fun for the little girls who have gathered on the grounds of the Williamsport complex. Seeing Davis at the pitcher’s mound has instilled a sense of female empowerment, and a belief that the possibilities are infinite. The older girls who have gathered, however, seem to have a deeper appreciation for Davis’ journey and are paying very close attention.
I think it is important to note that we have a “glass ceiling” when it comes to women and sports, and Davis is breaking that. She is changing the conversation, which will make it easier to overcome the barriers and win the battles women still face if they will face if they want to be coaches, or administrators in sports programs or to be a part of the sports world. Davis, through her skill and talent, is leading the way and encouraging women of all ages to fight for the right excel in sports programs of all kinds.
Read more about Davis’ historic climb at Bloomberg.com.