Celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day

Eva Violin
Feb 12
6 min read

Updated: Feb 23

Her name was Flora "Flo" Jean Hyman. Undoubtedly one of the most famous volleyball players of her time, Flo was an exceptionally talented athlete, Olympian, and activist. She was a trailblazer who rose to prominence as one of the most dominant outside hitters in the world, known for her height, athleticism, and commanding presence on the court.

Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Flo was a passionate advocate for gender equality in sport. She spoke openly about disparities in funding, media coverage, and opportunities for women athletes. She believed deeply that women deserved the same respect and investment as men in sport, a message that still resonates today. Hyman tragically passed away in 1986 while playing professionally overseas, but her legacy continued to shape the sport. Her passing led to increased awareness of Marfan syndrome and the importance of cardiac screening in athletes, contributing to lasting changes in athlete health and safety conversations. Hyman helped pave the way for future generations of women not just in volleyball, but across the entire athletic landscape. Her legacy one of excellence, advocacy, and courage.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) was established in 1987 to honour Flo Hyman's legacy and advance gender equity in athletics. President Ronald Reagan signed the first proclamation on February 4, 1987, recognizing the progress of women's sports and the 1972 passage of Title IX. As students in Brock's Sport Management program, we've studied Title IX extensively, gaining a deeper understanding of how policy can drive meaningful and lasting change in sport. NGWSD marks a time to celebrate, recognize, and advocate for the participation and leadership of women in sport. This year, the SPMA Council collaborated with the Brock Sport and Business Association (BSBA) to proudly host an evening dedicated to amplifying the voices of women shaping the sport industry and acknowledging the barriers that still exist.

While progress has undoubtedly occurred, women in sport continue to face challenges in visibility, leadership representation, media coverage, and access to opportunity. Events like this are not just symbolic — they are necessary. As my colleagues and I finished setting up, there was something powerful about watching people simply walk through the doors in support of women in sport. Showing up matters. It signals belief, solidarity, and a commitment to continued progress. The room was filled with students, professionals, and aspiring leaders, and that alone spoke volumes. Today's blog will walk readers through the night, in case you didn't get a chance to join us (SPMA students, look out for next year!) :)

Panel 1: Voices, Vision, and Visibility

The first panel brought together Logan Olivia, Hannah Carver, Ashley Pernice, and Chantal Brioux. Despite their different roles, a few common themes emerged: they have all witnessed incredible growth in women’s sport, and they emphasized being bold, visible, and unafraid to take up space.

Logan Olivia – Sports Content Creator

Logan spoke about shaping her own space in sports media. Inspired by the rise of the PWHL and frustrated by the lack of accessible women’s sports coverage on major outlets, she created the content she wished existed growing up. Her message was clear: don’t be afraid to post. You never know who is watching, who you’re impacting, or what doors might open. The power of visibility is real!

Hannah Carver – Communications Lead, AFC Toronto

Hannah’s love for storytelling guided her career in sports journalism. One of her most powerful reflections was on the evolution of language surrounding women’s sports. She described past language as performative and as if people were “throwing this entity a bone,” but it has now shifted into something audiences genuinely care about. Women’s sports are worth celebrating all year-round and not just on one designated day. Her advice to young students was that you might hear a lot of “no’s” throughout your career, but you should never be the one to tell yourself no first. Put yourself out there and pursue opportunities boldly.

Ashley Pernice – Manager, Client Experience, Blue Jays

Ashley, a Brock SPMA graduate, reflected on entering a graduating class with very few women. Today, she works in a role that didn’t even exist two years ago and one she helped shape. Her journey was fueled by personal inspiration, including her late mother’s love for the Blue Jays. Nights like this, she shared, encourage more women to pursue sport careers because representation matters. Her advice: go for jobs even if you don’t meet every qualification. Don’t be afraid to put your name and face out there. You don’t need to be perfectly ready to be worthy.

Chantal Brioux – Community Specialist & Founder of Sports Sisterhood

Chantal, another Brock SPMA alum, emphasized trying everything while you’re a student. Volunteer. Go to games. Work in sports you’re not even sure you like. You have your whole life to pick your niche and settle, but this is the time to explore. She also spoke about how meaningful it felt to return to Brock and see more women in the program than when she was a student. Her biggest takeaway: use the opportunities around you. The SPMA program is incredibly special, so lean into it!

Panel 2: Behind the Game

The second panel shifted focus to operations and business, featuring Brittany Arner, Samantha Charlton, Maheen Ali, and Joanna Balamatsis. The energy was informative and deeply motivating.

Brittany Arner – Director of Operations, AFC Toronto

Brittany shared that in operations, “the show must go on.” Similarly, her perspective on risk stood out: no mistakes are fatal; they are learning opportunities. Taking risks is necessary to grow. Oftentimes, the best opportunities are not obvious. It’s the small chances, the tangential involvement, or the quiet networking moments that end up mattering most.

Samantha Charlton – Hockey Operations, Toronto Maple Leafs

Samantha spoke candidly about being the youngest woman in the room. Instead of viewing that as intimidating, she reframed it as an advantage. “Being ready isn’t necessarily a feeling; it’s a decision”. In sport, there is room for mistakes. There is room for learning. Breaking into the industry can feel overwhelming, and feeling unmotivated at times is normal. Her advice was to say yes, volunteer often, and be intentional with connections. These moments reveal your character and work ethic to people that you might later run into. The sports world is smaller than you think, and you will likely cross paths again! Always take the time to acknowledge your peers.

Maheen Ali – Specialist, Business & Team Operations, Raptors 905

Maheen shared a wonderfully grounding reminder: you belong here. Use your love and passion for sport to take up space in the industry. She often reflects on how her 10-year-old self would have dreamed of her current position. Yes, some days working in sport can be 17 hours long, but when you pause and realize what you are part of, it feels worth it. She recalled a career moment where she felt emotional as she watched women in leadership positions and staff roles take up space on the Raptors court. These moments fuel her perseverance through long sporting days. She also stressed the importance of support systems. Surround yourself with good people, whether that be SPMA classmates, professors, or family. And always remember, women in sport lean on each other!

Joanna Balamatsis – Associate Coordinator, Global Partnerships, MLSE

Joanna, another Brock alum, highlighted how networking sometimes happens without you even realizing it. Coffee chats, cross-department conversations, retail jobs — they all add up. She urged attendees to just say yes and meet people across various functional areas to help gauge personal interests. Her career path wasn’t perfectly mapped out, but persistence and connection shaped it. What once started as a retail job transpired into working with a team of predominantly women and being invited back to Brock to speak to students about it. Once again, your network matters, and you can achieve anything with the right crowd cheering you on!

Closing Reflections

The evening ended with prize giveaways and open networking, allowing students to connect one-on-one with the panellists. Members of the SPMA Council and BSBA felt inspired by the accomplishments of the women on stage, the energy in the audience, professionals returning to speak where they once sat, and watching students ask thoughtful questions.

Personally, in the five years I’ve spent at Brock, I have witnessed noticeable growth in the visibility and leadership of women in sport. The difference even from my first year to now feels significant. Representation feels stronger, opportunities feel more tangible, and conversations feel louder.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day is a celebration, but it’s also a reminder of the work that must continue. After a night like this, our Council feels full of hope for the future generations of women who will not just enter the sport industry, but transform it.

Click the arrows below to see photos taken throughout the evening!

Want More Stories from Women in Sport?

Tune in to our latest SPMA Council Podcast episode featuring Brock Sport Management alumna Melissa Clausner, where she shares her journey to becoming the in-stadium host for Toronto FC and the in-arena host for the Niagara IceDogs, along with valuable advice for female students aspiring to break into the sport industry.