‘It’s just up from here,’ future of women’s sports bright in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas — Support for women’s sports is expanding across the United States, and today the City of Austin dipped its foot into that pond. At a city council meeting Thursday, the proclamations were given out, and groups were celebrated.

District 8 Councilwoman Paige Ellis announced June 8-15 as Women and Gender Expansive Sports Week.

For those in attendance, it was an emotional day at City Hall.

“Having the city recognize that and also put that out there to the rest of the city, and hopefully garner some more fans or some more support for each of these teams is really huge,” said Austin Rise FC Co-Founder Katie Reed.

Members in attendance represented various women’s sporting clubs around town including Austin Rise FC (women’s soccer), Austin Outlaws (women’s full tackle football), League One Volleyball (volleyball), Austin Torch (women’s ultimate frisbee), Texas Roller Derby, Austin Valkyries Rugby, and Round Rock Rage Rugby.

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Lily Messina represented the Austin Outlaws, who are entering their 24th season in women’s full tackle football. She said she got emotional while listening to Councilwoman Ellis read off the proclamation, as it marked the first time the city fully embraced women’s sports.

“It kind of denotes that there’s power in numbers and together we can achieve more than [an] individual,” she said.

Reed says the women’s teams came together a few weeks back to form a coalition. To see everyone lined up together Thursday morning meant meant a lot Messina says.

“All the teams that have been a part of this have all been so very supportive of each other,” she said.

Thursday provided a chance to push the women’s sports scene forward says Debra Hallum.

“It’s just up from here,” Hallum said.

Messina calls Hallum the leader of the coalition. Hallum is the co-owner and co-founder of ATX Women’s Sports Pub. While the pub is still searching for a home, its goal is to promote women’s collegiate and professional sports.

Hallum says she and her co-founder and owner traveled to Portland and Seattle where they were inspired by how much support women’s sports had in the Pacific Northwest.

“We were very inspired by that and looked at each other and said Austin has this incredible community that loves sports and women’s sports, and we can make this work in Austin, Texas,” she said.

That support is something Juliann Faucette knows all too well. Faucette was a three-time All-American and the 2010 Big 12 Player of the Year for the Texas Women’s Volleyball team. After a long career overseas, Faucette will get to play professionally in the United States for the first time as a member of the League One Volleyball-Austin team in their inaugural season.

“It’s an exciting time,” she said. “A sense of pride for me and this being my home.”

Faucette says it’s been a long time coming for women’s sports in Austin.

“Women have been working really, really hard in this industry. And to see everything come to fruition it’s just a proud moment,” she said.

A series of events and games will be held during the Women and Gender Expansive Sports Week, Reed hopes that leads to bigger things.

“Every single fan counts. Every single dollar counts. Every single bit of support that we can get for these teams is incredible,” she says. “I think honestly, the limits are just endless for women’s sports here.”

As for the future of women’s sports in Austin to Messina, it looks like equal coverage with men’s sports.

“I hope that it just leads to normalcy,” said Messina.

For soccer, Reed says it looks like establishing a professional women’s soccer club.

“I think this city deserves it,” she said. “I think there’s so much love for sports in general, but especially for women’s sports.”

In order for the future to remain bright, Hallum says it’s going to take support from everyone.

“People think that women are the only ones we need to support women’s sports and that’s just not true. We need everyone to support female athletes,” she said.

She’s at least doing her part, hosting a watch party for the University of Texas softball team as they compete in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. As for her business, she says it’s being crowdfunded. The link for that can be found here.