photos by: Mariah Warner (’20), Staff Photographer
Story by: Josh Smith (’20), Staff Writer
If you have toured UNC, you have most likely heard the same fun facts and trivia questions. From the origin of the name “Tar Heels” to tales of Michael Jordan gracing the floor of Carmichael Arena, these tales of legends from time immemorial have been ingrained into all of our minds. However, on one of my several tours of Carolina before I was accepted, I was asked a trivia question that stumped me; “What sport has the most championships at the University of North Carolina?” Hesitantly, I answered the Men’s Basketball Team; my assumption was wrong. The correct answer is the University of North Carolina’s Women’s Soccer Team, who has won an astounding 22 National Titles (more than any other women’s team in history). At this moment I realized the magnitude to which women’s sports at Carolina were overlooked. As a matter of fact, Carolina ranks third in NCAA history with 29 women’s team championships (only Stanford and UCLA have won more).
So why are women’s sports at Carolina underappreciated? In a recent interview with first year Women’s Rower Sally Stanley, when asked about the disparity in recognition between Men’s and Women’s Sports, she said, “I think men’s sports have always received more recognition than women’s, especially within pro sports. I think it dates back to when men’s sports were all there were. Title 9 is fairly recent and I think this had a big impact on the development of women’s sports”.
When asked a similar question, third year Women’s Fencer Carlexa Fevry stated, “It’s hard to get respect for your accomplishments”, and agreed that “men’s sports receive more recognition” than their female counterparts. Carlexa continued to say “I’ve had men refuse to fence me before because then they “may lose to a girl” and expressed it can be annoying and frustrating.
A recurring theme among interviewees was a lack of appreciation for Women’s sports, specifically in relation to Men’s sports. Female athletes achieve the same level of mastery as men playing their respective sports and devote their lives to their work in order to compete to the best of their ability. However, their male counterparts continue to receive more attention and admiration. Women’s sports have been taken for granted and even discredited not just at the University of North Carolina, but throughout the world. It’s time that women athletes receive their long overdue recognition.
Carolina has had a multitude of amazing female athletes, from Mia Hamm (4xChampion at UNC, 2xOlympic Gold, and 2xWorld Cup Gold) to the current Women’s Lacrosse team, currently aiming to repeat a National Championship. North Carolina has an abundance of talent in Women’s Sports; ready to receive even more support as they compete to continue their dominance. Women’s athletic schedules can be found at GoHeels.com.
Great article!