A thank you to our incredible women on National Girls & Women in Sports Day

I don’t usually care much for these designated holidays. But National Girls & Women in Sports Day? You got me there. I’ll play.

Growing up, I was the quintessential tomboy in your class. I wore sneakers and a ponytail every single day. I constantly had mud or grass stains on my knees. I liked roughhousing at recess and beating the boys in whatever sport they thought they played better than I did.

(OK, fine, you caught me. Yes, that's me, still doing all those things.)

Sometimes I won, and sometimes I lost.

But I never let anyone tell me I couldn’t play.

Because I live for this. And I know there are thousands of women who play with ZogSports every season who have a similar relationship to their favorite sports. The memories. The feelings. The nostalgia. The unconditional love for the game.

For many girls and women in sports, it’s not always easy to get the respect or access we deserve. But the important thing is that there is this incredible community of badass women out here playing our hearts out every single week. That’s why I’m so happy to work here.

As the marketing director for ZogSports and ZogCulture, I feel so lucky that it’s my actual job to promote PLAY among adults across the country. I can’t believe I get paid to do this. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.

Because I just want to play. And moreover, I want YOU to play. I want EVERYBODY to play.

Like many of you, I honestly can’t imagine my life without sports. What would I talk about? How would I spend my time? Who would I even be?

Sports taught me basically everything I know.

Sports gave me confidence. Showed me how to dust myself off after a hard foul, a tough loss, or a bad game. They taught me the value of practice, hard work, and hustle. They made me smarter and stronger. And girrrrrl, is there anything like the feeling of a hard fought win?

But it was more than just how I grew personally.

Sports also helped me build the deepest and most meaningful relationships in my life.

It’s no coincidence that the teammates who invited me to play, picked me up after a hard fall, or texted me after a tough loss are the same ones who were there for me when I lost my job or when my mom died. That’s how it always is. And that sense of belonging and connection are why sports are so special. That’s why we play.

So, on a day like today, we want to give a huge shout out to the amazing women in our leagues. To celebrate the incredible influence on sports in our personal and professional lives. To encourage you to keep playing, to find the teammates and friends who will understand and support you, to keep growing and striving.

Because life is better when you play. So get out there. The team needs you.

Celebrate this momentous day with us by getting out and playing your favorite sport with your favorite women, or donate to an organization like the Women's Sports Foundation to play it forward.