Each year, Women and Girls in Sports Day gives us the opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate the incredible impact women and girls have on athletics, both on the field of play and far beyond it. Team IMPACT’s mission is built on connection, resilience, and the belief that sports can change lives, and women and girls are so often at the heart of that story. From our own leadership and staff to the thousands of matches, student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, and admin who bring Team IMPACT to life, women and girls play such an integral role in exemplifying the power, leadership, and strength that come through sport.
“As a female athlete myself, it is an honor to work alongside so many other female athletes not only on the staff at Team IMPACT but also through the student-athletes, Fellows, coaches, and admin we have the privilege of working with every day,” said Krissie Kelleher, CEO of Team IMPACT. “I am endlessly inspired by so many women and girls in sports and grateful for the contributions and perspective they bring to the world of athletics.”
That inspiration shows up in countless ways across our Team IMPACT community. It’s in the dedication of student-athletes who welcome teammates with open arms. It’s in the leadership of coaches and administrators who advocate for inclusive, empowering environments. And it’s in the voices of women athletes who continue to push boundaries and create space for the next generation.
For many female athletes, the journey isn’t always linear. Growth takes time, patience, and resilience—especially in sports that demand precision, endurance, and unwavering commitment. For Ohio State artistic swimming student-athlete Janneke Dirven, that journey has not always been linear. She credits both her time as an athlete and as a Team IMPACT participant with helping each her the patience, resilience, and perseverance she hopes to share with others. “A piece of advice I’d give is that even if it doesn’t click immediately, keep going with it,” she said, “because at the end of the day, effort, commitment, and time are what will persevere.”
That message resonates for Janneke, and for so many others, far beyond athletics. Whether in sports, school, or friendships, progress often comes from showing up time and time, with consistency, empathy, and understanding. No athlete succeeds alone, and having a strong support system, often through team, can have effects that ripple out. For Maryland gymnast and Team IMPACT Fellow Alexa Rothenbeuscher, her advice to other women and girls in sport emphasized the importance of staying focused while leaning on those around you. “Stay goal-oriented, and you can do anything that you put your mind to,” she said. “Surround yourself with people who love you and are going to push you to grow, because you can do great things in this world if you put your mind to it.”
At Team IMPACT, we see this truth play out every day. When women and girls are supported—by teammates, families, coaches, and communities—they are given the space to thrive. They become leaders. They inspire confidence. And they create lasting impact on their campuses, in their communities, and throughout the Team IMPACT family.
On Women and Girls in Sports Day, today and every day, we celebrate the athletes who compete, the leaders who advocate, and the changemakers who make sports more inclusive and empowering for all. We honor the resilience it takes to never give up, the courage it takes to lead, and the compassion it takes to lift others along the way.
