The Sports Staff shared who their favorite woman in sports is.

Zaria Flippin (Head Sports Editor): A’ja Wilson

There are so many amazing women in the sports field: athletes, coaches, reporters, photographers, and the list goes on and on.

One of my favorite women in the sports field has to be basketball forward A’ja Wilson.

Whenever Wilson is on the basketball court, she dominates against her opponents, and she’s such a versatile player.

Wilson currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces, but she played collegiately for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

While playing for the Gamecocks for all of her four years of college, Wilson recorded 2,389 points, 1,195 rebounds and 363 blocks.

While Wilson has been with the Aces for the past six years, she has helped her team win two WNBA Championships…back to back (2022-2023).

When I am back home in South Carolina, there have been numerous times that I have driven past Wilson’s statue right outside of Colonial Life Arena.

Every time I see that statue, I just think about how Wilson grew up in Columbia for most of her life and left her stamp on the town while she continues to make history and write her own story in the WNBA.

Luther Yoder (Assistant Sports Editor): Caitlin Clark

My favorite woman in sports is Caitlin Clark because of what she has done for women’s basketball.

Before last year, I didn’t really watch women’s college basketball. I would watch the final four and the championship, but I wouldn’t pay that much attention. Last year I purposely watched the women’s final four and championship and paid attention to the game as it was going on.

Clark was the reason for that. Her playstyle is very entertaining to watch and something that you don’t even see in men’s college basketball. She has attempted 100 more threes and made 46 more than anyone in men’s college basketball.

Watching someone hit deep threes is something that I enjoy watching. Steph Curry is one of my favorite players because of that.

Watching Clark take these threes and make them at almost 40% is fun to watch, and doing that helped her break Pete Maravich’s points record.

Cameron Thomas (Sports Reporter): Serena Williams

My favorite woman in sports would have to be Serena Williams. 

Williams is an inspiration to athletes around the world, including another great tennis player, Coco Gauff. Williams is also the first ever African American woman to win the Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era.

Williams also has been successful her whole career since becoming a pro tennis player. To keep that level of dominance for a long period of time is remarkable.

Also, Williams shared her birth experience with the world and how difficult it was being an athlete and mother and encouraged others to share their story, which is huge for someone her stature to express something like that.

She also has put in money for youth programs in Washington D.C., and now in tennis, you see many Black tennis stars. Williams is a contributor to that, and that is why she is well respected no matter who you come across.

Patrick Schmitz (Sports Reporter): Caitlin Clark

My favorite woman in sports is Caitlin Clark. She is arguably the best college basketball player of all time. She just broke Pete Maravich’s record for points.  

She is dominating for Iowa, as she is one of the only reasons they win games. She has made me want to watch women’s college basketball more than any other athlete.  

She makes watching the game so enjoyable. Her style of play is so much fun. I think women’s college basketball is better than the WNBA anyway, but I’m hoping Clark can lead the WNBA in a better direction.  

She is more than capable of being the face of the WNBA. I’m just hoping she can continue her dominance and help the WNBA in the future.  

Overall, Caitlin Clark is just a fun player to watch who makes women’s basketball so much more exciting. She is my favorite woman in sports because of that. 

Payton Liggins (Sports Reporter): Erin Andrews

Hands down Erin Andrews is one of the best women in sports media. Her professionalism and versatility on camera shows how well of a reporter she is.

Andrews has been in the sports media world for almost two decades now. Long story short, she is one of the best in sports media. For starters, she has a strong background in sports journalism. She worked for major networks like ESPN and FOX Sports. 

Her experience and knowledge of the sports industry has allowed her to provide insightful commentary and analysis on various sports events.

Andrews is not only skilled at reporting live from the sidelines during games, but she also excels in hosting sports shows and conducting interviews with athletes and coaches. Her ability to adapt to different roles within the sports reporting field has earned her respect and admiration from both fans and colleagues.

Andrews is a trailblazer for women in sports journalism. Andrews has faced challenges and obstacles in a male-dominated industry but has persevered and succeeded, paving the way for other female sports reporters. Her dedication, passion and work ethic have solidified her reputation as one of the best in the business.

Gabe Newman (Sports Reporter): Alex Morgan

My favorite woman in sports is Alex Morgan.

Morgan has put together a dream career in women’s soccer and continues to be a shining star on a US Women’s National Team that has been dominant on the continental and world stage of women’s soccer, a team I grew up watching.

Morgan and the USWNT have shown the capabilities of women in this sport and pushed the boundaries of success to new heights.

Morgan is currently the captain of San Diego Wave F.C., which play in the top tier of women’s soccer in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Morgan even spent a short stint at my favorite soccer club’s women’s team, Tottenham Hotspur F.C., during peak COVID-19 times where unfortunately, no fans could pack the 60,000 seat Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to marvel at her greatness.

I, however, became more active in following the women’s team as a result. As Morgan’s career comes to a close, it’s impossible for me to say that any other woman in sports has been more of an inspiration than Alex Morgan.

Chloe Proffitt (Sports Reporter): Molly Seidel

My favorite woman in sports is Molly Seidel.

Seidel is an American Olympic marathoner, and in her first ever Olympics in 2020, she placed third with a time of 2:27:46.

I have really looked up to Seidel since my freshman year of high school. Seidel had an outstanding college career at Notre Dame, and she won multiple Division I NCAA titles in the 3,000 meter, 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter.

Seidel is inspirational to me, and she has spoken up about her battles with mental health and her eating disorder which hits really close for me.

In October, I got to watch Seidel run the Chicago Marathon, and I truly felt like a kid in a candy shop watching her. She moves almost as if she glides through the air. 

I look up to Seidel a lot. She is one of my biggest inspirations in the running community. As a runner myself, she inspires me and is one of my favorite women in sports.

The Sports Staff can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].