Siren 42: The Pink Belt Project, Taylor Capannolo, women in motorsport & more
A Women in Sport Collective
There is no news quite like good news, and this week it came in the form of the announcement that all 60 matches from the upcoming WNBL season will be broadcast live, split between Fox Sports, ABC and Kayo.
With the season set to begin in just over a week, it marks six years since the WNBL (along with W-League) was axed from the ABC’s schedule after massive federal budget cuts meant significant changes for the national broadcaster. It also meant women’s sport became the ‘sacrificial lamb’, a term former Opal’s star Lauren Jackson used at the time.
Of course, this is the oldest story ever told. While I am not about to rehash the Richmond VFLW drama, it painfully serves as the most recent example of women’s sport taking the hit when economic conditions change for the worse. Only the pain doesn’t come from the initial blow but rather from the dull sting of realising cuts due to budget are inextricably linked to perceived value. Not a revelation by any means, but a reality that sits like ankle weights on women’s sport in Australia.
Yet, despite the uphill battle, it marches on. Backed by the ongoing cheers from avid supporters like you, from the unwavering voices of the athletes, from the journalists demanding more; and, now, by the people in power who are starting to listen. While the last decade has seen big changes for women’s sport, the need for free-to-air access remains as pertinent as ever. Increased accessibility is crucial to continue the momentum, and the backing of major networks sends a message to the Australian public that is hard to ignore: this sport is worth your time because it is worth our money.
We’ve seen the positive impact that increased visibility has had on professional leagues like Super Netball and the WBBL, and of course the history-making ratings of the T20 Women’s World Cup Final aired earlier this year by Nine. In the world of rugby league, this year was the first time since the competition’s inception that every NRLW game was aired without a paywall. With every barrier we remove from the pathway of would-be supporters and future fans, we get a step closer to seeing more full time contracts and better salaries for our female athletes. We get a step closer to seeing their full potential.
Something that really stuck with me from the ABC’s WNBL announcement was a full-circle moment that truly highlighted the power in being continuously vocal about women’s sport and what it deserves. In the official article from the ABC, there was a reference to Basketball Australia’s Head of Women in Basketball: none other than Lauren Jackson.
It has been six years since she made that comment referring to the WNBL as the ‘sacrificial lamb’, and it seems only fitting that she played an integral role in bringing it back to the ABC and onto the radar of all Australian sports fans once more. Through her dedication to the game and unwavering belief in its potential, she has carved out a career off the court that has brought that very same lamb back to life.
This week’s Siren Sport newsletter intro was written by our Deakin University intern, Brielle Quigley.
Emerging Sports Writer Program
Applications close at 5pm AEDT today. If you’ve been tossing up whether or not to apply, just apply! You never know what might happen. As long as you identify as female or non-binary and have a passion for sport, you’re eligible!
In this issue
Gemma Bastiani profiles The Pink Belt Project, speaking to creator Kristy Hitchens and Olympic gold medallist Lauren Burns. Brielle Quigley interviews official Siren collaborator Taylor Capannolo of Halftime Huddle. And new contributor Emily Patterson interviews Motorsports Australia Women’s Commission chair, Jessica Dane, about the current state of play for women in motorsport.
Active meditation: how The Pink Belt Project is helping survivors
By Gemma Bastiani
The Pink Belt Project was started by Kristy Hitchens in 2018 in an effort to help survivors of domestic and sexual abuse regain their confidence.
Learn more about the Halftime Huddle’s Taylor Capannolo
By Brielle Quigley
From college athlete to commentator-meets-podcaster-meets-producer, sport has opened many doors for Taylor. The best part? She is only just getting started.
Changing the face of motorsport
By Emily Patterson
Motorsports Australia Women’s Commission chair, Jessica Dane, speaks to Emily Patterson about the current state of play in motorsport.
Calling all sports fans, journalists and students alike! Our Watch Australia are hosting a free webinar on the way sports journalism can combat harmful gender and racial stereotypes, which sounds like an excellent way to spend a portion of your Tuesday arvo. Register your interest here.
Okay but we were obsessed with this #HersDay video shared by Women’s Rugby League! Love a game day routine and especially love (queen) Kezie Apps’ coffee-before-everything mantra, because same.
Mary Konstantopolous is doing some incredible work for The Roar on this season’s WBBL, which surprises absolutely none of us. Her interview with the Sydney Thunder’s English import Tammy Beaumount is a brilliant read.
This adorable video of Sam Kerr’s grandmother unboxing her new Matildas Home kit is the wholesome content we didn’t know we needed. If you need a pick-me-up, trust us, this is it!
This article by Amanda Smith and Sophie Kestevsen for the ABC showcases some incredible female commentators and the lessons we can take from their career challenges and triumphs. Definitely a must-read for your week.
Our very own Danielle Warby features in the latest episode of Beyond the Balls, a podcast by Women Sport Australia. Biases aside, it wouldn’t be Siren Call without a podcast recommendation and this one just happens to be excellent! Listen to it here.
We loved this piece on the Melbourne Boomers’ latest New Zealand signing, ‘three-point shooting wizard’ Ashleigh Karaitiana. Ashleigh is taking on life in the bubble and the 60-fixture WNBL season all while being a mother to 17-month-year-old Kalea.Have we mentioned that female athletes are incredible?
NSW Blues supporters can collectively breathe a sigh of relief after injured captain Kezie Apps said her odds of playing State of Origin are high. Chloe Hart speaks to Apps about her rehabilitation process and gives insight into how the Blues are looking in this article for the ABC.
We are sending a huge congratulations to the GOAT of power couples, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe as they announced their engagement over the weekend. After the 2020 we’ve all had, this news makes us feel like everything will be ok!
Runner up
The power of representation, folks!
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