Girls & Women Win
in Columbus

Columbus Is and Always Has Been for Girls and Women in Sports.
Click below to learn how Columbus has supported women athletes throughout the years.

GAME CHANGERS

WOMEN IN SPORTS

OUR TEAMS

GET INVOLVED

PUTTING IN THE WORK

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

20+

Years Supporting
Women’s Sports

127K

Girl Participants
in High School Sports

15

NCAA Women's Championships
hosted here

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

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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

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

The Columbus Fury, part of the Pro Volleyball Federation, is igniting a new era of women’s professional sports in Columbus. Launching 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's 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.