National Girls and Women in Sports Day falls on the first Wednesday of February, a floating observance that celebrates the achievements of female athletes and champions equal access to sport. In 2026 it fell on February 4, continuing a tradition of advocacy that stretches back to the 1980s and links directly to the landmark push for gender equity in American athletics.
When is National Girls and Women in Sports Day?
National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is a floating observance held on the first Wednesday of February each year. That means the date shifts annually: it landed on February 4 in 2026 and will fall on February 3 in 2027. The observance is often marked with events, clinics, and recognitions throughout the surrounding week, and it dovetails with the broader focus on women’s achievements during the winter and Women’s History Month in March.
History and origin of National Girls and Women in Sports Day
The day has a clearly documented origin. It began in 1987, when Congress passed Public Law 99-540 and President Ronald Reagan issued Proclamation 5606 establishing a national day for women in sports; the first observance was held on February 4, 1987. The day originally honored Flo Hyman, the Olympic silver-medalist volleyball star and outspoken advocate for equality in athletics, who died in 1986 from complications of Marfan syndrome during a match. Over time the observance broadened from a memorial into a wider celebration of girls and women in sports at every level, and it was renamed National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The Women’s Sports Foundation, founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King, has become a central organizer and continues to coordinate events and advocacy around the day.
Why National Girls and Women in Sports Day matters
Participation in sports is linked to better physical health, higher self-esteem, stronger academic performance, and leadership skills that carry into careers and civic life. Yet girls and women have historically faced fewer opportunities, less funding, lower pay, and far less media coverage than boys and men. NGWSD spotlights those persistent gaps while celebrating the enormous progress made since Title IX, the 1972 federal law that barred sex discrimination in federally funded education and dramatically expanded access to school sports for girls. The day is both a celebration of how far female athletes have come and a call to action for the work that remains.
How to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day
- Attend or host a community event, clinic, or panel featuring female athletes.
- Recognize the girls and women athletes in your own life, school, or team.
- Support women’s sports by attending games or following professional leagues.
- Volunteer or coach for a girls’ youth sports program.
- Donate equipment or funds to expand access for young athletes.
- Share stories of female athletes who inspire you.
- Spread awareness online with #NGWSD.
The lasting impact of Title IX
No discussion of the day is complete without Title IX, the 1972 federal law that prohibited sex-based discrimination in any education program receiving federal funding. Although the law covers far more than athletics, its effect on sports was transformative. In the years before Title IX, only a small fraction of high school and college athletes were girls and women; in the decades since, that number has grown into the millions, opening scholarships, competitive opportunities, and professional pathways that barely existed before. National Girls and Women in Sports Day both celebrates that progress and acknowledges the work still ahead, from pay gaps and unequal media coverage to disparities in facilities and funding at many levels. The day reminds communities that access to sport is not just about trophies; it builds health, confidence, and leadership skills that last a lifetime.
Related days and observances
Related observances include International Women’s Day, Women’s History Month, the Title IX anniversary, National Women’s Health Week, National Student-Athlete Day, and National Sports Day.
By the numbers
NGWSD has been observed since 1987, making it one of the longer-running awareness days focused on women in athletics. Its roots connect directly to Title IX, enacted in 1972, which is credited with a dramatic rise in girls’ participation in high school and college sports in the decades that followed, from a small fraction of athletes to millions each year. The Women’s Sports Foundation, a key organizer of the day, was established in 1974, and Flo Hyman, the athlete the day first honored, helped the U.S. team win Olympic silver in 1984.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Girls and Women in Sports Day?
It is the first Wednesday of February. It fell on February 4 in 2026 and falls on February 3 in 2027.
Is it fixed or floating?
It floats, landing on the first Wednesday of February each year.
How did National Girls and Women in Sports Day start?
It began in 1987, authorized by Public Law 99-540, and originally honored volleyball Olympian Flo Hyman.
Why do we celebrate it?
To recognize female athletes' achievements and advocate for equal access and opportunity in sports.
How do you celebrate it?
Attend or host events, honor athletes, support girls' teams, and encourage participation in sports.
What is the hashtag for the day?
Celebrants commonly use #NGWSD.