Celebrating and amplifying girls and women’s sports in Columbus

A citywide initiative to make Columbus the nation's capital for women's sports anchored around four pillars: keep young girls and women in sports longer; empower the next generation of women in sports, business and civic leadership; grow women’s sports fandom, teams and events; drive investment and innovation in sports-related businesses

What is IgniteHER Columbus?

Ignite Passion, Ignite Power, IgniteHer Columbus

In Columbus, women and girls do more than play,

they transform the game
they set it ablaze.

On the court.
In the stands.
In the boardroom.

They’re writing a new definition of victory.

Here, we don’t just welcome the evolution,
we amplify it.

We set the stage for the type of greatness
that transcends sport and sparks a future that
belongs to HER.

We believe greatness is ignited.

IgniteHer Pillars

IgniteHer Columbus is anchored by four key pillars that guide action across education, leadership, mentorship and innovation:

Fuel HER Game

Keep young girls and women in sport.

Light Up Columbus

Grow women’s sports fandoms, teams and events based and hosted in Columbus.

Legacy Rising

Cultivating the next generation of female business and civic leaders.

Spark Next

Drive innovation in women’s sports and investment in sports-related businesses.

Cultivating Opportunity Through Women’s Athletics

Through this initiative, Columbus will create opportunities for individuals and also position Columbus as a national leader in women’s sports. This pursuit will reach an inflection point in 2027 when we host the NCAA Women’s Final Four and DI Women’s Volleyball Championship. Stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter.

IgniteHer Next

IgniteHER Next is a group of women in Columbus that have moved from the athletic field to the business world. If you played sports in college and want to connect with other former student-athletes, this is the place for you. It’s a place to make connections and make an impact on girls and women’s sports in Columbus. Share your contact details and we’ll be in touch ahead of our next event.

Fill out the welcome Form

NWSL to Columbus

In April 2026, the NWSL announced that their 18th franchise will be in Columbus, set to begin play in 2028. We're thrilled to have seen the city and community rally around the #NWSLtoCBUS movement. This is a huge step in our goal to make Columbus the top city for girls and women's sports. Learn More or become a founding member at columbusnwsl2028.com.

“As the NWSL continues its rapid growth, expanding to Columbus is a natural next step. This is a city with a rich soccer tradition, a proven track record of support at the highest level, and an ownership group making meaningful, long-term investments in women’s sports", said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman.

Become a Founding Member

Womens sports schedule

GAME CHANGERS, HISTORY MAKERS, OUR TRAILBLAZERS

Elevating Women & Girls in Sports

Part of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission's DNA

Columbus has always championed girls and women in sports, standing out as a city dedicated to athletic growth, community building, and equal opportunity. Even before it became widely celebrated, Columbus was setting the stage for women athletes, offering platforms where they could compete and thrive. From the Sports Commission's founding in 2002, we've sought to elevate women's sports in new ways. We believe in women's sports and the power they have to inspire young girls to be what they see. Here are a few examples of our work:

Columbus was the first city to wrap team buses in school branding for both the Women's Final Four (2018) and the DI Women's Volleyball Championship (2021)
The 2018 Women's Final Four was an advance sellout, featuring three incredible games highlighted by a title-winning buzzer-beater
Columbus set the then-record attendance figure with 18,755 fans at the 2021 DI Women's Volleyball Championship Final

Katie Smith OSU assistant coach, Big Ten scoring leader, led Columbus Quest to two titles, WNBA star, 3-time Olympic gold medalist.

GeorgeanneWells-WomenInSports-GCSC-1124v1

Georgeann Wells First woman to dunk in a college basketball game.

Holly Vargo-Brown OSU synchronized swimming coach with 24 national titles.

Nadine Muzerall OSU hockey coach, 2-time national champion.

Dixie Jeffers,Capital University Head Coach

KelseyMitchell-WomenInSports-GCSC-1124v1

Kelsey Mitchell NCAA scoring leader, 2018 WNBA #2 pick.

Julie Plank WNBA coaching veteran, OSU alum.

Buckeyes Belt Broncos Ohio State Center Mary Sivak rebound against Western Michigan (1980)

OSU Women's Trip To Semifinal Is Big Ten First Coach Nancy Darsch hugs Nikki Keyton as an elated Eria Ingwersen and Lisa Sebastian cheer (1993)

New Athletic Trophy at OSU Is Awarded Winners of Women's Buckianna Games Week 1964

Basketball No Stress Nor Strain on Ohio High School Girls 1961

OSU Women 73, Iowa 72 OSU head coach Nancy Darsch and assistant Melissa McFerrin (1993)

Capital Women Rally to Repeat as NCAA Champ Katie Mang, left, and Kelly Kerscher celebrate Capital's championship (1995)

Mang Sparks 13-0 Run As Crusaders Reach Final Capital point guard Jill Walker gets off a pass during the NCAA Division III semifinal against St. Thomas (1995)

Independent Leagues Exist For Girls After High School Independents play AAU rules (1961)

OSU Women 73, Iowa 72 Nikki Keyton of Ohio State makes a determined move to the basket (1993)

Texas Tech vs OSUTexas Tech's Krista Kirkland (21) forces OSU's Averrill Roberts to adjust her shot. (1993)

Buckeyes say they're proud of their success OSU's Katie Smith drives by Texas Tech's Noel JOhnson (23) and Krista Kirkland (21). (1993)

OSU Women 73, Iowa 72 Audrey Burcy of Ohio State gets up in the air to sink a basket (1993)

Jacy Sheldon Dallas Wings player, OSU staff member.

Abby Steiner U.S. 200m Champion (2022).

Annette Echikunwoke Olympic silver medalist in Hammer Throw.

24-WomenInSports-KeanaHunterAndRubyRemati

Keana Hunter & Ruby Remati Olympic synchronized swimming silver medalists.

Eleanor Harvey Olympic bronze medalist in fencing, OSU alum.

Image Credits:
Jacy Sheldon: John Mac, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Abby Steiner: Erik van Leeuwen (bron: Wikipedia). - Zenfolio - Erki Pictures, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121190757
Annette Echikunwoke: Habst, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Keana Hunter and Ruby Remati: https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/news/2024/8/12/general-buckeyes-win-five-medals-at-paris-olympics
Eleanor Harvey: © Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons
All Images from Making Headlines: © Columbus Dispatch

PUTTING IN THE WORK

The Impact of the Sports Commission on Women's Sports in Columbus

20+

Years Supporting
Women’s Sports

151K

Girls Playing
High School Sports in Ohio

15

NCAA Women's Championships
in Columbus

Our Teams

Columbus Fury: The Future of Women’s Professional Sports in Columbus

The Columbus Fury of Major League Volleyball, is igniting a new era of women’s professional sports in Columbus. Since their first season in 2024 at Nationwide Arena, the Fury has already captured attention with its world-class roster, passionate ownership group—including Ohio natives Jimmy, Robin, and Joe Burrow—and a commitment to delivering thrilling volleyball action. This groundbreaking team is not just about the game; it represents Columbus' potential as a leading hub for women's professional sports.

A Legacy of Women’s Sports Excellence

Columbus has a storied history with women’s professional sports, beginning with the Columbus Pacesetters, who were trailblazers in softball during the 1970s. In the late 1990s, the Columbus Quest dominated the American Basketball League, earning two championships and leaving an enduring legacy. Teams like the Columbus Comets and Columbus Chaos added to this tradition with their contributions to women’s football.

Why Columbus is Ideal for Women’s Teams

Columbus’s thriving sports culture, central location, and supportive community create the perfect environment for women’s professional teams to flourish. With its passionate fanbase, corporate backing, and facilities like Nationwide Arena, the city is primed for additional ventures. Discussions around attracting a WNBA team highlight the strong appetite for expanding women’s sports here.