Confession: I put off making this list of women’s sports teams in Chicago because I figured that it must already exist elsewhere and I didn’t want to duplicate efforts.
Yeah, not so much.
I don’t know why I’m surprised: Female athletes make less money, get less exposure and are less likely to get lucrative sponsorship deals than their male counterparts. Even when they’re winning more games and doing more in their communities. In fact, of the 100 highest paid athletes in the world, only one – Serena Williams – is a woman. So, yeah, no list.
Until now.
It’s up to all of us to turn this runaway train around, and I hope to see y’all at an upcoming match (I’ll be the one yelling “Go Sports!” at the top of my lungs). Let the games begin!
Eds. Note: At the time of publication in July 2018, some of the teams listed below have only a few games remaining for the season, so if you’re planning to see them, act fast.
Sport: Fastpitch Softball
League: National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Where they play: Chicago Bandits Stadium in Rosemont
NPF Champions 2008, 2011, 2015, 2016
Sport: Soccer
League: Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPSL)
Where they play: Toyota Park
Sport: Basketball
League: Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Where they play: Wintrust Arena
Sport: Flat track roller derby
League: Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)
Where they play: Windy City Fieldhouse
Sport: Flat track roller derby
League: Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)
Where they play: UIC Pavilion
Where they play: UIC Pavilion
Sport: Arm Wrestling
Where they play: Logan Square Auditorium
Photo courtesy of the Chicago Sky: The 2018 Chicago Sky with Dr. Douglas R. Dirschl of the the University of Chicago Medicine.
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