Siren 03: AWIHL Finals, Kick Like A Girl launches, AFLW nostalgia & more
A Women in Sport Collective
What a week we’ve had in women’s sport!
From the AWIHL finals, Australian Open, the final round of the WNBL, Rugby 7s, FIH Pro League, Softball Australia Pacific Cup, the start of the T20 International Tri-Series and more, we were spoiled for choice—exactly how it should be!
We saw a big jump in the mainstream media coverage of women’s sport, our data collection from Sunday, February 2nd gave a number that more than doubled last Sunday’s which was great, but this still only amounted to just over a quarter of all coverage being dedicated to women’s sport. This is so frustrating considering how much action was on.
We’re also pretty disappointed that so much of the coverage focussed on Ash Barty’s post women’s semi final loss press conference where she held her beautiful niece. Our world #1 deserves so much better than this from our media.
That’s why we’re so thrilled to have so many people support our mission to change this landscape and by signing up to this newsletter and sharing women in sport coverage on your channels. Every like, tweet, email forward helps!
In this issue
We are getting excited for the start of the AFLW Season which begins this Friday night with the season opener at IKON Park, between Richmond and Carlton, 7.45pm. Get there early—we’re expecting another lock out!
Gemma Bastiani provides a basic rundown of how the season will work and photographer Megan Brewer looks back over some of her favourite shots from the past three seasons.
Kate O’Halloran’s Kick Like a Girl is back on the airwaves! First co-host, AFLW stats expert, our own Gemma Bastiani!
We explain the upcoming WNBL finals series for those who might need a bit of help navigating how the format works and we sent Ice Hockey novice Kirby Fenwick along to the AWIHL finals. She shares her experience at the game and details the history of women’s ice hockey in Australia. It’s a fascinating and beautiful read.
We hope you enjoy this edition and thanks again for subscribing to Siren!
A beautiful game: the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League finals
By Kirby Fenwick
It’s a Sunday afternoon in February, one of the hottest months of the year in the driest inhabited continent on Earth. And I’m shivering inside O'Brien Icehouse. Ahead of me is the bronze medal and the gold medal games of the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League. Around me are hundreds of fans, many kitted out in hockey jerseys, some, incredulously, wearing shorts.
Memory Lane
By Megan Brewer
With AFLW season 2020 so close to kicking off, we thought it might be nice to reflect on what we’ve witnessed so far though a series of images. Our resident photographer, Megan Brewer has captured important, inspiring and heartbreaking moments over the first three seasons, so take a trip down memory lane.
Kick Like A Girl returns for 2020
Collective member Kate O’Halloran has returned to the 3RRR airwaves in time for AFLW season 2020. The show’s assistant producer Emily Fox asked Kate five quick questions about the show, AFLW and her love of sport so we can learn what to expect for the season.
WNBL Finals for Beginners
By Gemma Bastiani
The WNBL finals are set for the ‘19/’20 season and for some who are mostly AFLW fans, all they’ll have heard about this year’s finals is that multi-sport star Monique Conti has bowed out of the Boomers’ campaign to focus on footy. Of course this is welcome news for Tigers fans but we feel for our Boomers fans out there who might be feeling a little more nervous now heading into finals. In light of all that, let’s break down the details of the series, set to play out through February.
AFLW Season 2020 information rundown
By Gemma Bastiani
As we look toward Friday’s AFLW 2020 season opener, we’ve got all the details when it comes to how the season works, the conference breakdown, the finals series and more.
Congratulations to the Sydney Sirens who won the 2020 AWIHL Championship on Sunday!
The WNBL finals fixture is out and we’re so excited to see these series unfold. Be sure to get along or tune in when it all begins on February 16.
Tickets are also on sale for the Diamonds v All-Stars Netball Bushfire relief game and the line-up looks incredible!
It was so great to hear our pals The Outer Sanctum back on the airwaves on Saturday – if you missed their first show, catch it here.
For those trying to keep up with the #sportsrorts scandal, there’s this that details how sports applying for female friendly facilities were affected and Karen Middleton explains the Netball Australia grant. We’re really feeling for those sports and clubs who went through all the hard work to apply for these grants based on the need to make their spaces more inclusive and accessible for their communities. We hope you can get what you need soon.
Liana Buratti wrote a wonderful profile on Kyra Cooney-Cross and her finding her love for football again.
Laura Jolly wraps up the Australian Women’s Cricket Team efforts from the weekend in the start of the T20 tri-series.
We loved Sarah Spain’s response to NBA player Marcus Morris’ shocking and sexist post-match comments in the NBA. We’re tired from having arguments like this too, Sarah!
A couple of pieces have highlighted the complexities surrounding honouring Kobe Bryant after his death last week that also took the lives of eight others, including his daughter Gianna. This… and also this by Lindsay Gibbs and this by Amira Rose Davis are considered, poignant pieces that really help to unpack the issues, particularly around his connections to, and celebration of women’s basketball.
Jess Wuetschner was back at training last week which was so great to see after she was struck by lightning.
Katie Sowers made history on Monday being the first woman and openly gay person to coach in a Super Bowl. Her 49ers might not have come out on top but she’s a winner in our eyes. If you want to learn more about her coaching journey, here’s an interview with her from one of our favourite podcasts, Burn it All Down and a great article by Tayla Minsberg. If you’re also interested in the history of women coaching American football, check out academic Katie Taylor’s work.
How good is this shot of the Australian Women’s Softball team as they cheer their teammates to the home plate? The perfect summation of how we feel when we can support and celebrate other women. It gave us all the feels!
Runner up
Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle found her squad at the Aussie 7s and we are here for it!
Introducing our new section: Community Corner!
We want to provide a platform for people in our community to share events that support or give opportunities for women. If you know of or are planning a women in sport event that you would like us to promote, send the details through to contact@sirensport.com.au.
We’ll feature events such as forums, conferences, panels, networking opportunities, fan meet ups and ‘come and try events’ that are based in Australia.
We can’t guarantee that we will feature your event but we’ll try our best. We will not be posting player recruiting advertisements for teams and clubs due to the capacity of the newsletter.
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