The women’s sport boom continues unabated into an exciting 2023 filled with sport’s highest profile events – women will be at the forefront.
As television and stadium audiences continue to increase significantly, there are many issues to consider. Recognizing the conflict and congestion issues that are causing problems in many men’s sports as demand rises, can women’s sport resist the temptations of overexpansion? In fact, women’s sport shouldn’t be afraid to break new ground and do things differently – but the financial strength of the men’s game means it can make sense to relate to known, established amounts.
Is women’s sport too often blocked by patriarchal rule? Promoting greater gender diversity in all aspects of sport is imperative. How will increased professionalism change the structure of women’s sport? As female athletes begin to realize their strength, players often lead the urge to progress.
These issues and others raise many concerns for the year ahead. Here, Independent It selects some of the best events to watch out for in 2023.
Cricket: Women’s Premier League (4 March – 26 March)
After several years of half-assed attempts for the women’s version of the IPL, BCCI has finally arrived at the women’s sports party properly – and the launch of the Women’s Premier League could change the cricket landscapeto. With West Indies’ Deandra Dottin as a potential pioneer in pursuit of a free franchise future after retiring from international cricket, players can now consider making a living away from the international level.
Cricket has also gotten off to a good start and a growing group of promising Indian talents across five teams are working with record totals in the first few days as they test their skills against the best the world has to offer.
Rugby: Women’s Six Nations (25 March-29 April)
Twickenham will host an independent England Women’s match for the first time in 2023.
(AFP via Getty Images)
The success of the Rugby World Cup held in New Zealand last year established another exciting Six Nations Women’s Championship. A very interesting edition with both France and France. England rebuilding amid coaching changesand Italy, Wales, Ireland and Scotland are at different stages on their slow path to professionalism and are trying to close the gap.
The tournament is somewhat hampered by the dominance of the French and British, but that makes a possible Grand Slam decision at Twickenham on April 29 even more palatable. as the stadium has hosted an independent Women of England fixture for the first time.
2023 also marks the launch of World Rugby’s WXV, made possible by harmonizing a global calendar, with 18 of the world’s best countries competing in three stages – something that has yet to be achieved in men’s rugby. While it’s a shame that the opening edition will face the World Cup in France, the provision of competitive international fixtures for more countries is a huge positive and should lead to a significant strengthening of the global game. New Zealand is expected to host the top event, WXV1.
Tennis: French Open (28 May – 11 June)
Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff will compete for the title at Roland Garros
(PA)
The retirement of Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty leaves some headroom at the pinnacle of women’s tennis, but a new generation of prospective stars seem poised to step up. At the beginning of these Iga Swiatek, Already a three-time grand slam winner before his 22nd birthday and a strong favorite to win a third French Open in June.
While the last big winners Aryna Sabalenka, Emma Raducanu, and Elena Rybakina were all 24 and under, the American teen Coco Gauff will definitely join them soon. It bodes well for an ongoing competitive grand slam summer at Wimbledon (July 3-16) and the US Open (August 28-September 10).
Cricket: Ashes of Women (June 22 – July 18)
Australia’s dominant side visits England for ladies’ Ashes this summer
(Getty Images)
A vibrant T20 World Cup held in South Africa kicked off the year of women’s international cricket nicely. and there’s a lot to be excited about for the rest of 2023, especially the Women’s Ashes at the height of the UK summer. For the first time, a Women’s Test will be held over five days as Trent Bridge hosts the multi-format series opening. Women’s Ashes are also seeing a return to some of the UK’s biggest pitches, with stops at Edgbaston, Lord’s and The Oval.
The home team adopted a more positive style under head coach Jon Lewis, hoping it would allow them to close the gap to the all-conquering Australian side. He triumphantly added another piece of silverware to the overcrowded trophy rooms in Cape Town..
Football: Women’s World Cup (July 20 – August 20)
England and USA prepare to lead contenders for World Cup glory
(Getty)
Following last year’s continental success, Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses take on Down Under in pursuit of World Cup glory with the biggest women’s soccer tournament ever, which will conclude at Sydney Olympic Stadium in August. Still, the two-time defensive champion USA is unlikely to give up the crown easily.
It can also be a tournament dominated by player power: France and Spain are among the countries currently facing the prospect of becoming leaders. To Australia and New Zealand without some of their biggest stars amid disputes over the direction of their women’s national teams. The Women’s Finalissima between England and Brazil at Wembley Stadium on April 6 should be another blockbuster match, and there’s a lot of club action ahead of the World Cup.
Netball: World Cup (July 28-August 6)
Netball occupies a rare place in the world of sports as a predominantly women’s game, hosting the 16th World Cup in 2023. host the event.
South Africa will be hoping for a strong performance at home after finishing in fourth place four years ago, but Australia, Jamaica, England and New Zealand will likely be the main protagonists.
Golf: Solheim Cup (22-24 September)
Suzann Pettersen (centre) will be captain of Europe in the next two editions of the Solheim Cup
(PA Archive)
While men’s golf has been beset by high-profile fights and a Saudi-backed separatist streak, the women’s side of the sport appears to be far more established. It’s also an exciting time, with the legacy of the pandemic meaning back-to-back Solheim Trophies in 2023 and 2024.
Both Europe and the USA have new captains at Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis respectively; Pettersen’s role in the outstanding European victory at the Gleneagles in 2019 will help mobilize his team as they struggle to retain their prizes. Still, Lewis’ pick must have been strong: Lilia Vu is a first-time LPGA winner and rising in the world rankings, Lexi Thompson has shown signs of a recent return to her best touch, and world number two Nelly Korda is now in the top ten with all five female majors finishes. .
Speaking of which, excitement is in the air ahead of this year’s big swing, when a long-awaited visit to Pebble Beach for the US Women’s Open (July 6-9) will certainly create excitement.
And many more sports…
As Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall clash in London, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano similarly break new ground at Madison Square Garden, the best and brightest in women’s boxing, in 2022 the two female boxers make their debut at a major venue in the UK. made the headlines. They will return to the ring this year. And can Formula 1 make more progress towards female representation on the grid? Despite fears about the future of the W Series, there are encouraging signs.
The world’s top athletes will gather in Budapest for the World Athletics Championships from August 19 to August 27, while the World Aquatics Championships will be held in Fukuoka in June. Mikaela Shiffrin’s record-breaking successes on the tracks continue in the World Cup season finale in Andorra in late March, before continuing in 2023.
She’s long been at the forefront of the WNBA in the United States and women’s AFL and NRL team sports in Australia and will again produce plenty of fun action.