THE ULTIMATE LIST OF BADA** SPORTSWOMEN TO FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM (PART I)
SUE BIRD is an Israeli-American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association.
Why we love her: This bada** baller is an inspiration on and off the court and has helped pave the way for women in the sports industry. So much so that NBA quarterback Russell Wilson wore her jersey recently to commemorate the influence she has had on basketball. Sue has logged the most career minutes, games and assists of any WNBA player. She was one of the first classes to have the opportunity to play professionally after college and has helped shape the league into what it is today. Sue is a strong advocate for the LBGTQ+ community and acts as a role model to young women with her pro soccer partner Megan Rapione. Together, the dynamic duo inspires girls around the world to pursue their passions.
Words to live by:
“Anytime you go up against the best and you succeed — you prove yourself — you’re just putting money in your confidence bank. It’s a memory you have, that you were successful. You just carry that with you.”
Follow Sue on Instagram @sbird10
MEGAN RAPINOE is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger and captains OL Reign in the National Women's Soccer League and the United States National Team.
Why we love her: A strong advocate and member of the LGBTQ+ community, Megan is the voice of the female athletes of our generation by using her platform to discuss issues surrounding gender discrimination in sports. In 2018, Megan and her partner Sue Bird were the first same-sex couple to be on the cover of ESPN’s The Body Issue, an amazing accomplishment and step in the right direction for both women and LGBTQ+ people. Off the field, Megan is the co-founder of rɘ—inc, a gender-neutral lifestyle brand that gives people the space to reinvent the modern world.
Words to live by:
"I was made exactly the way I was meant to be made in who I am, and my personality, and the way I was born."
Follow Megan on Instagram @mrapinoe
HILARY KNIGHT is an American ice hockey forward with the PWHPA and the United States National Women’s Hockey Team. She is also a three-time Olympian and former member of the Boston Pride.
Why we love her: In 2010, Hilary was the youngest player to have joined Team USA’s hockey team at 20 years old. Hilary is changing the way people see the NWHL by working to create one league so that talent, resources and funding aren’t split between the US and Canadian NWHLs. Hilary left the NWHL and moved to Montreal in an effort to create a more sustainable women’s league for the next generation of young hockey players. In 2018, Hilary was featured in Forbes’ “30 under 30” for winning on and off the field in sports and for helping bring more awareness to women’s hockey. Hilary uses her platform to motivate and inspire young girls to realize their value as professional athletes and believes that women are just as capable of success as their male counterparts.
Words to live by:
“I didn’t want to make the team because I’m a girl. I wanted to make the team because I’m good enough.”
Follow Hilary on Instagram @hilaryknight
KATIE LEDECKY is an American competitive swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist. Katie has 15 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer, and is the world record holder in the women's 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle.
Why we love her: As a student at Stanford University, Katie is using her platform to inspire Gen Z students and young adults to stand up for what they believe in. Katie has encouraged young people to exercise their right to vote to ensure their voices are heard in the upcoming election. She is a positive role model with a go-getter attitude who shows young girls that the sky's the limit. Although Katie is a highly decorated Olympian, she is very humble in her achievements and credits much of her success to her passion for swimming. She has been named to the US Olympic Committee’s Female Athlete of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Words to live by:
“Don’t practice until you get it right, practice until you can’t get it wrong.”
Follow Katie on Instagram @katieledecky
TIANNA BARTOLETTA is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the long jump and short sprinting events. She is a two-time Olympian with three gold medals.
Why we love her: Tianna is a blogger and author of Why You’re Not a Track Star, an ebook geared towards middle and high school aged athletes to help them reach their running potential. In 2011, Tianna founded Club 360, which serves to teach young women about honor, integrity, and self-respect. She saw a need for young women to have a positive role model in their lives and believed that women needed guidance on navigating through difficult situations and choices. She is set to host a virtual workshop in December 2020, which is centered around bouncing back from setbacks. Her workshop will help women learn how to build a resilience plan to overcome life’s obstacles.
Words to live by:
“Sometimes it’s not the run or the workout that is the hardest part, it’s the discipline to start.”
Follow Tiana on Instagram @tianna.bartoletta