Women’s sports are experiencing game-changing moments like never before with more television coverage, opportunities for females to coach men and sponsorships for athletes and teams.
Many of these present situations have come from the past and those who have paved the way.
Four Western Pennsylvanians will be on a panel for “Game Changers: Women and Sport” program from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
The program is being held in conjunction with the History Center’s exhibit “A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh.”
Courtesy of the Senator John Heinz History Center
Alfreeda Goff is a pioneering coach and administrator who dedicated 40 years to intercollegiate athletics will be one of four women on a panel to discuss the evolving story of women in sport in “Game Changers: Women and Sport” program at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
Panelists will share personal experiences from trends to sponsorship and pay.
They are Suzie McConnell Serio, an NCAA All-American at Penn State, Women’s National Basketball Association star, coach, and U.S. Olympic medalist; Teresa Conn, co-owner and coach of the Pittsburgh Passion women’s football team; Caroline Fitzgerald, a women’s sports industry expert and CEO and founder of GOALS, a women’s sports business media outlet and consulting company; and Alfreeda Goff, a coach and administrator with 40 years of collegiate athletics experience.
“I wanted to build a panel of women from the 1960s to today to show the changes over time and how the battle for equity played out for women,” said Anne Madarasz, director of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the History Center, who will serve as event moderator. “It’s really the choices and sacrifices these women have made that created opportunities for themselves and the women who came after them. And it has not been easy.”
Courtesy of Caitlin Thomas
Caroline Fitzgerald, daughter of former Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, is known as a women’s sports industry expert and CEO and founder of GOALS, a women’s sports business media outlet and consultancy company who also has a podcast “The Business Case for Women’s Sports.” She will be one of four women on a panel to discuss the evolving story of women in sport in “Game Changers: Women and Sport” program at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
And there is still more to accomplish said Fitzgerald, which is why she founded GOALS and hosts a podcast called “The Business Case for Women’s Sports.” Fitzgerald said 1% of global sports sponsorship dollars go to women’s sports.
“There is economic value that comes from investing in women’s sports,” said Fitzgerald, who has worked for the History Center, Dick’s Sporting Goods and P3R, a fitness organization that hosts races, events and health and fitness programs throughout the region. “I see big opportunities on the business side of women’s sports. I am honored to serve on a panel with such trailblazers. Suzie is a personal hero of mine.”
Like Fitzgerald, McConnell-Serio played on boys’ teams when she was young because there weren’t teams for girls. Both credit their parents with supporting their athletic interests.
McConnell-Serio, with her sister Kathy, helped Seton LaSalle High School to a PIAA state basketball championship in 1984.
An All-American at Penn State, McConnell-Serio set NCAA career records for assists with 1,307. She won a gold medal at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and added a bronze medal at Barcelona in 1992. McConnell-Serio coached Oakland Catholic High School to four Quad A WPIAL titles and three state championships. She played professionally with the Cleveland Rockers of the WNBA and coached the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx for two seasons. She coached college basketball at Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh and said the sport is more popular than ever.
The NCAA women’s basketball championship game between champion South Carolina and Iowa had Caitlin Clark, who broke the NCAA record for most career points — men or women — in college basketball, and marked South Carolina’s perfect record. Clark was the No. 1 selection in the WNBA draft. The women’s NCAA title game outdrew the men’s championship with an average of 18.9 million viewers, according to the Associated Press. Millions tuned in to watch the Olympics in Paris for the women’s gymnastics competitions.
The Pitt women’s volleyball team, currently No. 2 in the country, was No. 1 for six consecutive weeks.
Pittsburgh announced a professional women’s soccer team called the Riveters, which will begin play in 2025.
McConnell-Serio said social media has also helped get the word out about women’s sports.
“Basketball has always been a huge part of my life and to see the growth of women’s college basketball over time is wonderful,” McConnell-Serio said. “I love that women’s sports are getting more exposure. There are so many women who have come along to help with the growth of women’s sports.”
McConnell-Serio said Goff, who coached at East Allegheny High School before serving as the head coach for Pitt women’s track and field program, is definitely a pioneer. At Virginia Commonwealth, Goff served as the senior associate athletics director, the staff liaison for all sports except men’s basketball, the director of compliance, senior woman administrator and department liaison with the office of admissions, financial aid, and registrar, and as the tournament director for conference and NCAA tournaments.
Courtesy of the Senator John Heinz History Center
Teresa Conn, who is co-owner and coach of the Pittsburgh Passion women’s football team, will be one of four women on a panel to discuss the evolving story of women in sport in “Game Changers: Women and Sport” program at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
Conn’s contributions also span decades.
She has been a part of the Passion capturing three national championships. The team established the longest winning streak in professional football with 27 straight wins from 2014-2016. Conn became only the third woman inducted into the Minor Pro Football Hall of Fame.
There is no time like the present to talk about women’s sports, Madarasz said.
“It has taken decades and decades of work and we are now seeing the payback of that work,” Madarasz said. “I want the panelists to be able to tell their story and see how it fits the narrative of how we got here and what’s next. These women continue to pave the way to fulfill their dreams and help others fulfill their dreams.”
Tickets are $10, $5 for members, free for students with valid identification, are available here.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at [email protected].
