The Fight to Keep Girls Playing
The Fight to Keep Girls Playing  
Podcast: Welcome to the Party
Published On: Tue Feb 03 2026
Description: This special Party Starter begins with a quick celebration: Billie Jean King fresh off Sundance, where a new documentary about her life premiered to phenomenal reviews. The moment sets the tone for an episode rooted in legacy, impact, and what comes next. From there, Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach, and Billie Jean turn their focus to National Girls & Women in Sports Day and why it still matters. Founded by Billie Jean alongside the Women’s Sports Foundation, the day is both a celebration and a reminder of unfinished work. Since 1974, the Foundation has invested more than $115 million in research, advocacy, and community programs to expand access and opportunity for girls and women in sports. Using data from the Women’s Sports Foundation, the trio breaks down where progress has been made, where inequality persists, and why visibility at the pro level doesn’t automatically translate to access on the ground. They spotlight organizations across the country showing up for girls right now, then go deeper with personal reflections on belonging, leadership, resilience, and the critical role adults play in keeping girls in the game. And because this is Welcome to the Party, it all builds to a familiar showdown: Julie and Abby face off once again on the Peloton Tread. Pressure is a privilege but will third time finally be the charm? Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day. Let’s keep the girls playing.   Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠ Instagram — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠ TikTok — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠ Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com   Keep the Party Going: -Give me the Ball reviewed at Sundance! https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/give-me-the-ball-review-billie-jean-king-espn-1236487989/ -Learn more about The Women’s Sports Foundation: www.WomensSportsFoundation.org -Find a local organization celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day: https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/get-involved/ngwsd/ -Learn more about Flo Hyman: https://www.volleyhall.org/flo-hyman.html -I9 Sports Gains are for the Girls: https://www.i9sports.com/ Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC The Women's Sports Foundation goal is simple: to ensure every girl and woman has the chance to play, compete, and lead. Learn more www.womenssportsfoundation.org   Your numbers, your data, your insights — everything is finally in one place. Learn more about Intuit QuickBooks at quickbooks.com. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Quince.com/WELCOMETOTHEPARTY for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Check out the limited-edition Team USA collection and get 15 % off your first order at Wearfigs.com with code FIGSRX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices