Since the beginning of time women have fought for recognition across all subject matters. In society, jobs, education, and generationally, sports. As women’s sports became more relevant in the media in the 2024 athletic season, DePaul Prep women shared the impacts of this acknowledgement and the experience of being a female athlete.
Many of DePaul Prep’s very own women share talents across the athletic department, with many students going off to play college sports and even faculty who are retired college athletes.
Former Women’s College basketball player, physics and AP Chemistry teacher, and JV girls basketball coach at DePaul Prep, Sandra Nagowska shares her experience as a female athlete and how it has helped shape her into who she is.
Nagowska attended Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario Canada for 4 years and then went on to play women’s college basketball for 2 years at York University as she was getting her Master’s Degree.
Nagowska shares that her love for basketball kindled through her dad, with him always pushing her to follow in her family’s athletic tendencies.
“I started playing [basketball] when I was in fourth grade,” Nagowska stated, “My dad put me in just to get me to start running because my family’s big runners and then I was pretty good at it so he kept me in.”
It was Nagowska’s talent and drive that motivated her desire to continue her athletic career in college.
Nagowska stated, “I knew I always wanted to play, I think I’ve been competitive my whole life so it was a natural profession for me.”
This natural drive that Nagowska carried with her was what allowed her to compete at a higher level, putting in the conscious effort to make herself known to college basketball.
When describing the recruitment process, Nagowska mentioned the difference now to them in terms of connecting and getting your name known.
“It was so different back then to now. I mean the internment was just starting up so it was word for word, like showing up gyms, talking to people, making relationships with people that you see when you’re playing,” said Nagowska.
This effort and consistency didn’t stop at the recruitment process, perseverance came through juggling both being an athlete and a student.
“It was definitely really challenging…I mean we would have class all day and then train for 3, 4 hours a day, 6 days a week,” shared Nagowska, “But definitely so rewarding, I don’t even remember the challenges, I just remember the fun.”
In addition to Nagowska, DePaul Prep female athlete students share their experience playing Women’s sports and what it means to them.
Junior and three sport athlete Georgia Philip shared the impact that sports has had on her and her life in athletics. Philip represents DePaul prep athletics, playing Women’s Tennis, Basketball, and Softball, and being an all seasons athlete.
“Sports have been a part of my life for a long time, it basically is my identity. Everything I do revolves around sports,” said Philip, “Playing sports has shaped my values, character, and my social connections. I’ve always loved the action and excitement it brings. As a player and a fan, sports deeply resonate with who I am”.
Not only has Philip participated heavily in Women’s sports, but Philip has had experience being the only female athlete in a male dominated sport, baseball. Although she does not compete in baseball anymore, Philip shares the valuable lessons that she learned from this unique experience.
“I played baseball with boys starting at 5 years old. Playing with boy’s put me at such a high advantage athletically,” Stated Philip, “When people saw only one girl in the whole baseball park district playing with all the boys and dominating at pitching, they came to watch. People were amazed that I was a girl playing with all the boys.”
Philip adds to this, sharing the comments of astonishment that she would receive. “People would always stop by my games while I was pitching and think it was crazy. I never knew if I should take them all as a compliment or an insult because they were amazed that I was maybe better than most of the boys or that I was a girl,” said Philip.
In addition to dominating the playing field, Philip also involves herself in the observation of Women’s college basketball and players at a higher level.
As an avid watcher, Philip stated, “I love watching college sports. I always loved watching basketball whether it was men or womens. My dad has always been my biggest supporter and one of the reasons I play sports. We’ve bonded over watching sports and have recently fallen in love with watching women’s college basketball, specifically Iowa’s team”.
Philip states how this recent recognition that Women’s basketball is getting is impacting the sports industry, specifically amongst females.
“ Women’s basketball has gotten lots of recognition from the 2023 season with the popularity of Caitlin Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese. Until Caitlin Clark came into the picture with all of her broken records, women’s basketball got no recognition and women’s games had little viewership,” Stated Philip, “However, Iowa raised the bar for women’s sports with breaking attendance every single home game and even playing in the Iowa football stadium”.
Philip also added that a lot of women’s sports recognition is rooted in the media. “Women’s sports are not getting enough attention with all of the talent that they have and the good basketball they play. It’s all sourced from the media and the popularity of players. If they aren’t doing something that brings attention to them in some way, women’s players are overlooked and thought of as just girls”.
Nagowska added to this comment sharing the difficulty of finding women’s sports on any television or being broadcasted anywhere. “It was always the people who were actually interested in women’s sports who would show up to the game,” said Nagowska, “It was always really hard to find women’s sports on TV.”
This recognition however doesn’t just apply as a worldwide social shift, but also pushes female athletes watching to become more encouraged and confident in their abilities.
Nagowska shares how the uprising of women’s sports goes hand in hand with her coaching at DePaul Prep and the lessons that young women are learning. “You know, seeing role models that look like you is definitely inspiring to young people. I think that was something that I was missing as a kid,” Nagowska stated, “There’s so many lessons to be learned from sport and seeing women succeed as a young girl lets them know that this is a possibility”.
Nagowska comments however that you don’t need to make it “big” as a woman in sports to become fulfilled and recognized. She shares that the premise of sports are personal growth and development.
“Not everyone is going to play pro basketball. Not everyone is going to be the next Caitlyn Clark, but sport is so much more than that. It’s pushing yourself to the limit that will teach you so much more about yourself and life in general”.
Philip adds onto this idea, sharing how viewing these women have impacted her.
“The lack of recognition that women’s basketball players get is always frustrating. There are always people that are gonna say that women aren’t good at sports and will never be as good as the men. This just makes me want to prove people wrong and not give up on playing the sports that I love,”said Philip.
Philip continues stating, “I might not be the next Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese, but they are huge reasons why girls like me continue to play. People are finally becoming more aware of what women in sports can really do.”
Not only are Women’s sports gaining more and more attention, but they’re simultaneously having an impact on so many people. Not just in the recognition of women and their capabilities, but the personal recognition that one is able to achieve. As a student, an athlete, a person, and as a woman.
