It’s no secret that women are underrepresented in sports.
Out of the 65 athletic director positions in Power 5 schools, five are held by women.
In the Southeastern Conference, there’s only one.
Vanderbilt University Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee helped pave the way for change. Along with Lee, women have taken more jobs in the sports field and proven their ability to dominate.
PHOTOS: LSU gymnastics defeats Alabama 198.325-197.325 in the PMAC
In recent years, the news media and sports industry has become more accepting toward women. Once the realization that women can put on a performance equivalent to men set in, it opened a whole new world of entertainment in sports.
Last year continued to be a record-breaking year.
Women’s basketball became a prime example of this, as the LSU-Iowa championship reached a record 9.9 million viewers.
After the championship win, LSU’s Kim Mulkey signed a contract for over $3 million per year, making her the highest-paid coach in women’s college basketball.
Nebraska’s volleyball team broke more boundaries when they hosted an outdoor volleyball match with an attendance record of 92,003. The crowd was the largest to watch a women’s sporting event in U.S. history.
LSU’s gymnastics team decided it wanted to take part in the revolution, too.
The 2024 squad brought a new connotation to the word “elite.” Ranked No. 2, the Tigers are on track to be finalists in the 2024 National Championship.
They took the program to new heights, continuously breaking records at home and on the road.
Their ability to put on a show is attracting fans from every age group.
The Tigers had over 12,000 attendees at every home meet this season. This is unique to LSU’s iconic brand, as the highest attendance for teams they’ve played away is 9,811.
On Feb. 16, the Tigers sold out the PMAC for the first time this season. Surprisingly, they did it again in their meet against Alabama.
Why is this shocking? The meet was at 5 p.m.
“It was concerning to me because I was worried half the place would be empty,” head coach Jay Clark said. “It wasn’t. That’s a testament to our fans.”
The Tiger fans’ dedication to supporting LSU’s squad has undoubtedly helped their success throughout the years.
They know that when they show up for a meet, quality entertainment is guaranteed, which coincides with the fact that LSU is consistent.
At the core of its team is senior Haleigh Bryant.
Bryant is the first gymnast in LSU history to record a gym slam, scoring 10s in all four events. In her four years as a Tiger, Bryant has posted 14 perfect scores, and her career isn’t over yet.
“I just do it for my team,” Bryant said. “They’re absolutely everything to me.”
The rest of the Tiger squad doesn’t disappoint either.
Graduate student Kiya Johnson is a consistent all-arounder for the Tigers, producing a few perfect scores herself.
LSU’s floor, beam and vault lineups also see Olympic qualifier Aleah Finnegan, who recently scored back-to-back 10s on the floor.
And it’s hard to forget the freshmen dynamic duo of Konnor McClain and Amari Drayton. The two have been nothing short of excellent, showcasing their wide range of skills and electric personalities.
LSU’s dedication to empowering women has shined a new light on its program.
In a video before every meet, media superstar Olivia Dunne emphasizes the importance of shattering limitations as a female.
“I just want to be a role model to young girls,” Dunne said in an interview with Vuori. “I want to set a good example, and I want to send out a message that we’re more than just our sport.”
With Dunne’s activism and Bryant’s success, the Tiger squad has done its part to strengthen the bonds of women in sports.
At the rate that it’s going, attendance records and empowerment won’t be the only thing that LSU claims for its 2024 season.
Perhaps it’ll grab its first national championship, too.
